LAHORE, April 20: A magnificent unbeaten century by Imran Javed inspired National Bank to a stunning two-wicket victory over PIA in a crucial match of the Pentangular Cup at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Imran, a right-handed all-rounder, scored 102 off 170 balls with 11 fours and two sixes as the bankers achieved a stiff target of 375 after resuming the fourth dand final day 58 for two.

Yasir Arafat, another all-rounder, supported Imran, with a 75-ball 49 in a vital seventh-wicket partnership of 117 after the pair joined hands at 187 for six.

Yasir, who slammed five boundaries and one six, was bowled by Najaf Shah but Imran with Mohammad Sami (20) then added 61 in the eighth-wicket partnership.

After Sami's dismissal, Imran, together with Naeem Ahmed Khan (six not out), carried the bankers to victory.

Earlier, Faisal Athar (61 off 94 balls, 12 fours) and Nasir Jamshed (46 off 63 balls, five fours and one six) also played well.

The bankers earned six points from the win as they conceded the first innings lead, making aggregate 24 from three outings.

The victory boosted National Bank’s prospects of claiming the title as their closest rivals Faisalabad (27 points) have already completed their fixtures.

The bankers face the lowly-rated Karachi Harbour in the last round of matches.

Scoreboard

PIA (1st Innings) 242 (Ghulam Ali 124; Wasim Khan 5-67).

NATIONAL BANK (1st Innings) 207 (Mohammad Sami 45; Umar Gul 4-64).

PIA (2nd Innings) 339 (Yasir Hameed 101).

NATIONAL BANK (2nd Innings, overnight58-2):

Salman Butt c Kamran b Umar 16

Nasir Jamshed lbw b Fazle 46

Naumanullah lbw b Umar 8

Faisal Athar c Rauf b Fazle 61

Shahid Yousaf c Imran b Fazle 32

Mansoor Amjad c Rauf b Najaf 7

Imran Javed not out 102

Yasir Arafat c Rauf b Najaf 49

Mohammad Sami c and b Janisar 20

Naeem Ahmed Khan not out 6

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-14, W-7, NB-2) 28

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 92.4 overs) 375

FALL OF WKTS; 1-30, 2-38, 3-91, 4-170, 5-185, 6-187, 7-324, 8-365.

BOWLING: Fazle Akbar 29-5-124-3 (5w); Umar Gul 27-1-101-2; Najaf Shah 24-4-66-2 (2nb, 1w); 9.4-1-39-1; Kamran Sajid 3-0-26-0.

RESULT: National Bank won by two wickets.