LAHORE: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) beat Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) by seven wickets at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium while Higher Education Commission (HEC) bagged a victory against Pakistan Television (PTV) at Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad in the fifth round of the President’s Cup one-day tournament on Thursday.

After opting to bowl first, SNGPL bundled out Wapda for a paltry total of 86 in just 23 overs. Only Muhammad Akhlaq (38 off 67) and Akif Javed (21 off 12) managed to register scores in double figures for Wapda.

Shahnawaz Dahani and Bilawal Bhatti picked up three wickets each while Mohammad Ali grabbed two wickets and skipper Yasir Shah claimed one scalp.

In reply, SNGPL took 18.3 overs to chase down the target losing three wickets in the process. Ali Waqas top-scored with 30 and shared an opening partnership of 43 runs with Abdullah Shafique (run-a-ball 28). Asif Afridi dismissed two batters while Naqeebullah picked up one wicket.

At the Diamond Club Ground, PTV, after opting to bat first, managed to post 194 in 44.1 overs courtesy a half-century from Waqar Hussain (59 off 66) and a valuable contribution of 41 off 45 balls from Taimur Khan.

For HEC, Aqib Liaqat picked up four wickets for 28. Saad Khan chipped in with three scalps while Waseem Akram and Jahanzaib Sultan dismissed one batter each.

HEC stumbled in reply as they were reduced to 46-3 before skipper Mohammad Huraira registered an unbeaten 78-ball 100 on the back of 14 fours and one six.

Saad contributed with an undefeated 57 with the help of eight fours as HEC reached the target in 26.1 overs with the duo sharing a 149-run fourth-wicket partnership. Jahandad Khan picked up two wickets and Ibtisam Rehman dismissed one batter.

Scores in brief:

SNGPL beat Wapda by seven wickets at Shoaib Akhtar Stadium

WAPDA 86 in 23 overs (Mohammad Akhlaq 38, Akif Javed 21; Shahnawaz Dahani 3-14, Bilawal Bhatti 3-20, Mohammad Ali 2-12); SNGPL 87-3 in 18.3 overs (Ali Waqas 30, Abdullah Shafique 28; Asif Afridi 2-12)

HEC beat PTV by seven wickets at Diamond Club Ground

PTV 194 in 44.1 overs (Waqar Hussain 59, Taimur Khan 41; Aqib Liaqat 4-28, Saad Khan 3-38); HEC 195-3 in 26.1 overs (Mohammad Huraira 100 not out, Saad Khan 57 not out; Jahandad Khan 2-41).

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2024