KARACHI, Jan 9: Habib Bank Limited (HBL) face an uphill task after Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) tightened their grip in the rain-hit Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.

The star-studded HBL were left battling for survival on the third day of the match after Tuesday’s blank day as they closed at 106 for five in response to SNGPL’s first-innings total of 351.

Hasan Raza, the out-of-favour Pakistan batsman, led a rearguard action after Samiullah Niazi and Asad Ali had virtually polished off the top-order batting in a dramatic 69-minute period.

HBL suffered one shock after another as the two opening bowlers made the Kookaburra ball swing alarmingly. But it had to be said that some of the batsmen contributed to their downfall by lack of both temperament and technique.

Without discrediting Sami, the left-arm seamer, and Asad who otherwise bowled brilliantly, HBL cannot blamed anyone but themselves for the predicament they now face in the remaining playing time.

Shahid Afridi, who strode out at 27-3, was guilty of committing the biggest blunder when he dragged one from Asad onto his stumps. Sadly since he started playing cricket, Afridi generally has taken only route whenever he bats and Wednesday was no exception.

Younis Khan, the other big star in the HBL line-up, was desperately unfortunate when Sami produced a near unplayable delivery to trap the ace Pakistan batsman leg-before-wicket for five. The ball on that occasion kept a shade low as it curved in sharply into the right-hander.

Humayun Farhat was Sami’s other victim as HBL paid the price of playing just one specialist opener in Riffatullah Mohmand after being forced to sideline the ICL-contracted pair of Imran Farhat and Taufiq Umar.

Aftab Khan became the fifth batsman to perish without entering the double digit when Asad uprooted his middle stump out of the ground to claim his third wicket.

At 48 for five, the bankers were in real danger of being bowled out for less than 100. But Hasan (37 off 66 balls in 107 minutes, five fours) and Kamran Hussain (16) then partially restored parity by adding 58 in 57 minutes in their unbroken stand. HBL, who still require 46 runs to avert the follow on, need a dramatic turnaround to prevent SNGPL from lifting their first trophy on their maiden appearance in a major final.

Earlier, SNGPL resumed their unfinished innings at 203-4 before they were all out shortly before tea. However, an hour’s play was lost because of bad light after just one over was bowled at the start.

Pakistan star Misbah-ul-Haq, who scored 42 on the first innings, made 64 with 13 boundaries until he was sixth out to Fahad Masood, who had earlier seen off his overnight partner Khurram Shahzad (27) to break the 78-run stand for the fifth wicket.

The bulk of runs were provided by Adnan Akmal, who is a wicket-keeper/batsman like his older brother Kamran the current Pakistan player. Adnan scored an enterprising 54 off 92 balls with eight hits to the fence before becoming the second of Danish Kaneria’s three wickets.

And although the Pakistan leg-spinner ended up with three for 79 in 25 overs, he had to wait until the 21st over to pick up his first scalp. Kamran, who had taken three wickets on Monday, added last man Adil Raza to his list and finished with four for 99, while Fahad returned figures of three for 71.

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