KARACHI: Abid Ali continued his sublime form as he played a clinical knock of 225 not out for SNGPL against Eshaal Associates during the ninth and final round match of the President’s Trophy Grade-I tournament here at the UBL Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Right-hand batter Abid hit 34 boundaries and one maximum as SNGPL posted a first innings total of 346 before being dismissed on the second day.

For Eshaal Associates, Asad Raza took four wickets while giving away 88 runs.

Eshaal Associates were reeling at 116-5 at stumps as opener Abdur Rehman played a gritty innings of 56 off 148 deliveries. Rehman’s knock featured six boundaries.

At State Bank Stadium, OGDCL posted a huge first innings total of 431 against HEC, courtesy of opening-day centuries by Raja Hamza Waheed (103) and Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (123).

19-year-old Fahad Amin proved to be an unlikely hero for HEC as the right-arm pacer took his maiden five-wicket haul.

In turn, skipper Mohammad Mohsin Khan came agonisingly close to his century but was dismissed on 99 as HEC scored 231 for the loss of six wickets before the stumps were drawn.

Ali Hamza Wasim also played a good knock of 59 before Mushtaq Ahmed took his wicket.

At NBP Sports Complex, Ghani Glass’ fast-bowling trio of Khurram Shahzad (4-37), Mir Hamza (2-29) and Ubaid Shah (3-54) shared nine wickets among them to dismiss Wapda for a meager total of 132 in only 28 overs.

In reply, wicketkeeper-batter Junaid Ali’s 112-ball 55 guided Ghani Glass to finish their second innings on 270 in 58 overs at stumps, setting Wapda a 425-run target.

Meanwhile, at the KCCA Stadium, an unbroken 183-run stand for the fourth wicket between Aqib Shah (122 not out) and Muhammad Irfan Khan (95 not out) helped SBP — who accumulated a lead of 333 — score 364 for three against KRL.

Resuming their second innings at the overnight score of eight for no loss, SBP openers Imran Butt (29) and Mohammad Faizan (38) provided a solid 68-run start.

Following their dismissals, captain Umar Amin contributed 61 off 89 balls, which included eight fours and two sixes.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2025