KARACHI, March 31: Some fine teamwork guided PIA to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in the Group ‘B’ Super Six encounter at the NBP Sports Complex here on Monday.

Pace trio of Najaf Shah, Anwar Ali and Ali Imran Pasha claimed three wickets each to bowl out SNGPL for 205 after PIA skipper Faisal Iqbal had elected to field first at the toss.

PIA knocked off the required runs with 20 deliveries to spare thanks to good batting from opener Khurram Manzoor and the Iqbal brothers, Fahad and Faisal.

Faisal’s decision to invite SNGPL paid off immediately when Anwar Ali sent back Ali Waqas without a run on the board. Left-armer Najaf got rid of Umar Akmal (1) and skipper Mohammad Hafeez (18) to leave SNGPL in tatters at 41 for three in the ninth over.

Azhar Shafiq (38 off 57 balls, three fours) and Adnan Akmal (24) added 47 before Ali Imran Pasha picked up three quick wickets put PIA right on top.

The biggest setback for SNGPL was the run out of their star batsman Misbah-ul-Haq for a 34-ball 26.

However, all-rounder Tauqir Hussain revived SNGPL’s hopes as he and Azhar combined to add 50 for the seventh wicket. But their efforts came at a snail pace (almost 14 overs) as Faisal, whose leadership qualities rekindled memories of his famous uncle Javed Miandad, placed his men in the right areas.

Tauqir, who needed 91 balls to score 51 that included three boundaries as he found it difficult to find gaps, was finally undone by Anwar.

Najaf and Ali Imran bowled with great control, but Anwar gave away 53 runs.

Khurram, named vice-captain of Pakistan Academy squad to tour Bangladesh next month, hit nine boundaries to emerge the day’s top-scorer with 68 off 90 balls.

He shared a third-wicket stand of 74 with Fahad before slow left-armer Imran Khalid nabbed him. Fahad slammed five fours in scoring 40 off 76 balls before older Faisal struck two fours and one six in his 45-ball 39 to pilot PIA home.

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