KARACHI, Dec 30: Rising pace star Mohammad Talha grabbed a five-wicket haul to help National Bank crush Habib Bank by 171 runs on the third day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship match at the NBP Sports Complex here on Tuesday.

Talha, the 20-year-old Faisalabad-born speedster, marked his debut for NBP by taking five for 37 in nine overs as HBL were bundled for less than 100 for the second time in the match.

Despite having the services of Pakistan ace batsman and their skipper Younis Khan, HBL folded up for just 88 in the second innings in 18 overs with Younis making two. He scored only four in the first innings.

Anwar Ali, another upcoming paceman, claimed a 10-wicket match haul that guided PIA to an innings and 193-run victory over Karachi Whites at the National Stadium. The regional side, resuming at 73-3, were dismissed for 161 in the second innings with Anwar claiming five for 43 in 11.1 overs to finish with match bag of 10 for 60.

Abbottabad also notched up a three-day win, defeating Peshawar by nine wickets at the Arbab Niaz Stadium. Left-arm paceman Armaghan Khan captured match figures of 10 for 136 including a career-best nine for 38 in Peshawar’s first innings.

Opener Qasim Shaikh scored 103 for Pakistan Customs, who conceded a first-innings lead of 44 runs to SSGC at the Quaid-i-Azam Park in Steel Township in a match that is heading for a draw.

KRL, meanwhile, conceded a narrow six-run lead to ZTBL, who made 255 in their first innings at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi. KRL’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed seven for 63 in 27.5 overs.

Saeed Anwar Junior made 102 as KRL reached 210 for three in the second innings.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore: All three matches in Punjab were certain to end in draw because of inclement weather.

Faisalabad reached 96-2 after finally having the chance to start their innings at the Gaddafi Stadium where Lahore Ravi made 327 in the first innings.

After two blank days because of heavy fog, Multan reached 170-5 against Hyderabad at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Only six overs were possible at the Sheikhupura Stadium in the game between defending champions Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines (SNGPL) and Wapda. SNGPL were 72-4 after resuming at 60-3.

Scores and results on Tuesday (day three of four):

At NBP Sports Complex: National Bank beat Habib Bank by 171 runs.

NBP 209 in 73 overs (Fawad Alam 54, Qaiser Abbas 50 not out; Kamran Hussain 4-34) and 130 in 42.3 overs (Danish Kaneria 5-44); HBL 80 in 38.5 overs (Mohammad Aamir 4-20) and 88 in 18 overs (Mohammad Talha 5-37).

At National Stadium: PIA beat Karachi Whites by an innings and 193 runs

KARACHI WHITES 65 in 26 overs (Anwar Ali 5-17, Najaf Shah 4-30) and 161 in 44.1 overs (Anwar Ali 5-43); PIA 419 in 114.2 overs (Yasir Hameed 78, Kamran Sajid 57, Fahad Iqbal 53, Khurram Manzoor 51).

At Quaid-i-Azam Park: SSGC 346 in overs (Ahmed Zeeshan Malik 104 not out, Saeed bin Nasir 52) and 6-0 in 2 overs; PAKISTAN CUSTOMS 302 in 117.3 overs (Qasim Sheikh 103; Mohammad Kashif Rana 4-63).

At KRL Stadium: KRL 249 in 84.1 overs (Rizwan Ahmed 101; Mohammad Khalil 4-61) and 210-3 in 50.2 overs (Saeed Anwar Jr 102, Azhar Ali 81); ZTBL 255 in 95.5 overs (Afaq Raheem 76; Saeed Ajmal 7-63).

At UBL Sports Complex: KARACHI BLUES 289 in 90.5 overs (Shadab Kabir 91, Mohammad Fahim 50; Nazar Hussain 5-55); QUETTA 129 in 55.3 overs (Tabish Khan 4-50) and 249-8 in 88 overs (Naseem Khan 62).

At Diamond Club Ground: ISLAMABAD 252 in 89.5 overs (Ali Sarfraz 64; Nasir Malik 4-50) and 124 in 33.4 overs (Haseeb Azam 6-64); RAWALPINDI 238 in 66.3 overs (Fawad Hussain 108; Rauf Akbar 4-46) and 128-6 in 28 overs (Hammad Azam 58).

At Arbab Niaz Stadium: Abbottabad beat Peshawar by nine wickets.

PESHAWAR 66 in 26.5 overs (Armaghan Elahi 9-38) and 247 in 97.2 overs (Sajjad Ahmed 84, Mohammad Rizwan 60; Rashid Mansoor 5-45); ABBOTTABAD 292 in 83.1 overs (Ghulam Mohammad 94, Fawad Khan 69) and 22-1 in 4.3 overs.

At Gaddafi Stadium: LAHORE RAVI 327 in 112.3 overs (Kashif Siddique 114); FAISALABAD 96-2 (Imran Ali 52 not out).

At Sheikhupura Stadium: SNGPL 72-4 in 39 overs v WAPDA.

At Multan Cricket Stadium: MULTAN 170-5 in 55 overs v HYDERABAD.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...