KARACHI: The opening day of the President’s Cup belonged to the batters as three players — Saad Khan, Mohammad Awais Zafar and Shamyl Hussain — struck commanding centuries, helping their sides to victories in Karachi on Monday.

Pakistan Television (PTV), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Khan Research Labor­atories (KRL) and Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDCL) all opened their campaigns with wins across four venues.

At the KCCA Stadium, SNGPL outclassed Wapda by 166 runs, courtesy maiden List-A hundreds from Saad and Awais and a tidy four-wicket haul from off-spinner Mubasir Khan, who returned 4-43.

Put into bat, SNGPL were 46-2 before Saad (115 off 102 balls, 14 fours and three sixes) rebuilt the innings in a 124-run partnership with captain Shan Masood (58).

Awais then took charge with a blistering counter-attacking century, hammering 108 not out off just 57 deliveries, peppered with nine sixes and five boundaries. His stands of 77 with Saad, 61 with Mubasir (20) and 62 with Aamir Jamal (24) propelled SNGPL to an imposing 379-6. Wapda’s Sharoon Siraj claimed 3-52.

In reply, Wapda crashed to 75-5 before Khalid Usman (58) and Ayaz Tasawar (50) offered brief resistance in a 79-run stand. But their efforts were not enough as Wapda folded for 213 in 48.2 overs, with Ahmed Safi Abdullah remaining unbeaten on 31.

At the UBL Sports Complex, OGDCL edged State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in a thrilling three-wicket win, driven by a spectacular unbeaten 82 from player-of-the-match Mohammad Sarwar Afridi.

Coming in at 177-5 and later 200-7, Sarwar unleashed eight fours and five sixes in a counterpunching knock, adding an unbroken 103 for the eighth wicket with Asif Afridi (33 not out) to take his side home with seven balls to spare.

OGDCL captain Adil Amin earlier contributed 65 after SBP had posted 302-5. For SBP, Irfan Khan top-scored with an unbeaten 82, combining in a 114-run partnership with Salman Ali Agha (80), before adding a late flourish with Shahid Aziz (23 not out).

At the Oval Academy Ground, PTV cruised past Ghani Glass by seven wickets with 109 balls remaining, thanks to left-hander Shamyl’s maiden List-A century in only his fourth appearance.

Chasing 193, PTV lost three wickets for 40 after a 77-run opening stand between Yasir Khan (32) and Shamyl, but the young opener remained unfazed, striking an authoritative 112 not out off 87 balls, laced with six sixes and eight fours. He finished the job in partnership with Mohammad Mohsin (27 not out) in an unbeaten 79-run stand.

Earlier, left-arm spinner Ali Usman (4-33) dented Ghani Glass, despite a fighting 59 from Hussain Talat and a brisk 41 from Mohsin Riaz. Ghani Glass were dismissed for 192 in the 42nd over after losing their last five wickets for 48 runs.

At the Naya Nazimabad Ground, KRL wrapped up a comfortable seven-wicket win over Sahir Associates, reaching the modest 130-run target in 26.1 overs. Shahzaib Khan anchored the chase with an assured 59 not out, striking two fours and three sixes.

KRL’s spinners had earlier set up the victory, with Hamza Nazar (3-11), Iftikhar Ahmed (3-30) — who was named player of the match — and Sufiyan Muqeem (2-25) sharing eight wickets. Sahir Associates, who had recovered to 64-1 through Fahad Usman (41) and skipper Asim Ali Nasir (30), collapsed to 129 all out after both fell in quick succession.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2025