KARACHI, Dec 28: PIA put themselves in commanding position after bundling out Karachi Whites for a paltry first-innings total of 65 on the opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship on Sunday.

Pacemen Anwar Ali (5-17) and Najaf Shah (4-30) shared the bowling honours at the UBL Sports Complex after PIA skipper Faisal Iqbal invited the regional side to bat first.

Openers Yasir Hameed (78) and Khurram Manzoor (51 not out) started with a stand of 116 in reply before PIA closed at 173 for one.

A total of 12 wickets fell at the NBP Sports Complex where National Bank were dismissed for 209. Habib Bank replied with 11 for two by close of play.

The most outstanding performer of the day was Abbottabad’s pace bowler Armaghan Elahi, who claimed a career-best 9-38 to bowl out Peshawar for 66. Ghulam Mohammad then hit up an unbeaten 94 to help Abbottabad reach 227-4.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore: Heavy fog restricted play to 21 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium where Lahore Ravi reached 45-3 against Faisalabad.

Meanwhile, no play was possible in the matches between defending champions SNGPL and Wapda at the Sheikhupura Stadium, and the Multan-Hyderabad tie at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Scores on Sunday (day one of four):

At NBP Sports Complex: NBP 209 in 73 overs (Fawad Alam 54, Qaiser Abbas 50 not out; Kamran Hussain 4-34); HBL 11-2 in 7.4 overs.

At National Stadium: KARACHI WHITES 65 in 26 overs (Anwar Ali 5-17, Najaf Shah 4-30); PIA 173-1 in 55 overs (Yasir Hameed 78, Khurram Manzoor 51 not out).

At Quaid-i-Azam Park: SSGC 230-4 in 83 overs (Saeed bin Nasir 52) v PAKISTAN CUSTOMS.

At KRL Stadium: KRL 242-6 in 80 overs (Rizwan Ahmed 97 not out) v ZTBL.

At UBL Sports Complex: KARACHI BLUES 274-6 in 83 overs (Shadab Kabir 91, Mohammad Fahim 50) v QUETTA.

At Diamond Club Ground: ISLAMABAD 216-8 in 77 overs (Ali Sarfraz 64) v RAWALPINDI.

At Arbab Niaz Stadium: PESHAWAR 66 in 26.5 overs (Armaghan Elahi 9-38); ABBOTTABAD 227-4 in 53.1 overs (Ghulam Mohammad 94 not out, Fawad Khan 69).

At Gaddafi Stadium: LAHORE RAVI 45-3 in 21 overs v FAISALABAD.