KARACHI, Feb 11: Veteran Asif Mujtaba showed on Saturday that he had not lost his old touch by stroking a half-century to help PIA stay in contention for Patron’s Cup semifinals.

The 38-year-old former Test left-hander made a 67-ball 59, which was laced with nine boundaries, as PIA achieved victory in the 43rd over by making 195 for four against KRL at the NBP Sports Complex.

Bazid Khan was also in good form by contributing a solid 42 while helping Asif put on 96 for the fourth-wicket. His 86-ball innings included five fours.

Earlier, off-spinner Tahir Khan grabbed four for 31 after ex-Test paceman Fazle Akbar ripped apart KRL’s top-order with three quick strikes.

KRL eventually struggled to 194 for nine in their 50 overs.

Scoreboard

KRL:

Mohammad Wasim c and b Tahir 35

Saeed Anwar lbw b Fazle 0

Abdul Rauf c Mahmood b Fazle 0

Ali Naqvi c A. Zeeshan b Fazle 6

Mohammad Farrukh c Mahmood b Najaf 14

Saeed bin Nasir c sub b Tahir 30

Usman Saeed b Tahir 38

Shahbaz Butt not out 39

Shahzad Butt c Bazid b Asif 1

Alamgir Khan st A. Zeeshan b Tahir 7

Saeed Ajmal not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-10, W-10, NB-3) 23

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 194

FALL OF WKTS: 1-2, 2-2, 3-21, 4-52, 5-90, 6-106, 7-177, 8-184, 9-193.

BOWLING: Fazle Akbar 7-0-29-3 (2w); Najaf Shah 10-0-31-1 (3nb); Kamran Sajid 8-0-30-0 (1w); Tahir Khan 10-1-31-4 (1w); Imran Tahir 4-0-9-0; Asif Mujtaba 7-0-35-1; Mahmood Hamid 4-0-19-0 (2w).

PIA:

Yasir Hameed c Farrukh b Shahzad 14

Kamran Sajid c Wasim b Saeed Anwar 34

Ghulam Ali c A. Rauf b Saeed Ajmal 31

Bazid Khan not out 42

Asif Mujtaba b Saeed Ajmal 59

Mahmood Hamid not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-6, NB-4) 12

TOTAL (for four wkts, 42.3 overs) 195

FALL OF WKTS: 1-32, 2-80, 3-84, 4-180.

DID NOT BAT: Ahmed Zeeshan Malik, Tahir Khan, Imran Tahir, Fazle Akbar, Najaf Shah

BOWLING: Abdul Rauf 7-2-25-0 (1nb); Shahzad Butt 6-0-45-1 (2nb); Saeed Anwar 7.3-0-24-1 (2w); Saeed Ajmal 8-1-46-2; Mohammad Farrukh 9-1-37-0 (3w); Alamgir Khan 5-0-16-0 (1nb).

RESULT: PIA won by six wickets.

UMPIRES: Salim Badar and Siddique Khan.

MATCH REFEREE: Ishtiaq Ahmed.