KARACHI, Dec 8: Discarded middle-order batsman Asim Kamal nudged national selectors with a superb 81-run knock as the rain-marred Patron’s Trophy match between the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) ended in a draw here on Friday.

Asim, a left-handed Test batsman, struck six fours and one six in his unbeaten innings off 161 balls as the HBL scored 252 in 79.5 overs on the fourth and last day of the match that lost the first two days due to rain. Tafiq Umar (33) and Humayun Farhat (25) were the other main scorers.

At the close of play, the KRL were 179-6 in reply to HBL’s total with Usman Saeed (33) and Zulfiqar (29) remaining unbeaten. Mohammad Wasim (73) was the top scorer for the KRL. From the HBL, Shahid Afridi got three wickets while Azhar Mahmood grabbed two.

The other match played at the UBL Sports Complex between the ZTBL and Wapda also ended in a draw after two days were lost due to bad condition of the pitch as a result of rain.

Resuming the final day's play at 118-2, the ZTBL declared their innings on 248-8 with Afaq Raheel (66) being the top scorer.

Asif Hussain scored an unbeaten 32 while Asim Butt marked 33 in Wapda's total of 87-1 at the end of the final day’s play.—PPI