KARACHI, Jan 2: A defiant sixth-wicket partnership of 98 between Mahmood Hamid and Ahmed Zeeshan Malik helped PIA overcome a poor start against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in the Patron’s Trophy Grade-I match at NBP Sports Complex on Monday.

Mahmood struck an unbeaten 56 and Ahmed Zeeshan 40 as PIA closed the opening day of the four-day fixture at 226 for six in their first innings after stand-in skipper Faisal Iqbal elected to bat first.

Left-arm paceman Samiullah Niazi was the pick of SNGPL’s bowlers with figures of three for 46 in 22 overs. His victims included Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik (34), Bazid Khan (28) and Ahmed Zeeshan.

Gangling speedster Waqas Ahmed got the prized scalp of in-form Faisal for 13 while spinners Tariq Mahmood and Imran Khalid picked up one wicket each.

Scoreboard

PIA (1st Innings):

Agha Sabir b Tariq 15

Kamran Sajid c Ayub b Imran 17

Shoaib Malik c Hafeez b Sami 34

Bazid Khan c Tariq b Sami 28

Faisal Iqbal c Arsalan b Waqas 13

Mahmood Hamid not out 56

A. Zeeshan Malik c Shakeel b Sami 40

Tahir Khan not out 1

EXTRAS (B-15, LB-3, W-1, NB-3) 22

TOTAL (for six wkts, 85 overs) 226

FALL OF WKTS: 1-37, 2-37, 3-88, 4-104, 5-127, 6-225.

TO BAT: Imran Tahir, Fazle Akbar, Umar Gul.

BOWLING (to-date): Samiullah Niazi 22-8-46-3 (3nb); Waqas Ahmed 13-4-22-1; Arsalan Mir 2-1-1-0; Tariq Mahmood 16-3-52-1; Imran Khalid 24-4-65-1; Mohammad Hafeez 8-1-22-0.

SNGPL: Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Ayub, Arsalan Mir, Sufyan Munir, Misbahul Haq, Saleem Mughal, Tariq Mahmood, Shakeel Ansar, Samiullah Niazi, Waqas Ahmed, Imran Khalid.

UMPIRES: Iftikhar Malik and Siddique Khan.

MATCH REFEREE: Ishtiaq Ahmed.