KARACHI, April 7: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) wasted little energy in reaching the ABN-Amro National One-day Cup final with a 91-run rout of Khan Research Laboratories in the second semi-final at the NBP Sports Complex on Monday.

Skipper Mohammad Hafeez made nullified KRL’s advantage of winning the toss and electing to field first by smashing seven fours and one six in a 48-ball 50 as SNGPL collected 257-8 in their 50 overs.

Azhar Shafiq (38) and Umar Akmal (46) put on 66 for the third wicket to keep the momentum going before Khurram Shahzad (28), Adnan Akmal (24) and Imran Khalid (27) added useful runs in the final overs.

KRL, in reply, ran into trouble from the onset as Asad Ali removed ex-Pakistan batsmen Ali Naqvi, skipper Mohammad Wasim — both of whom had ironically marked their respective Test debut in the late 1900s with a century before fading away into obscurity — and Zulfiqar Jan in a hostile new-ball spell.

Fellow paceman Samiullah Niazi compounded KRL’s misery when left-handed opener Saeed Anwar Junior became his prey. And although Azhar Ali (67 off 111 balls, five fours) stuck to his guns defiantly, the game was long over before the final rites were conducted by Imran Khalid, the slow left-armer who took three wickets.

SNGPL have the chance to complete a grand double since earlier in the season they lifted the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy for the first time when they ‘defeated’ Habib Bank, their opponents on Thursday, on the basis of first-innings lead.

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