KARACHI, Jan 9 Habib Bank had the better of the first day`s play in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship match on Friday after they restricted PIA to a modest first-innings total of 200 at the UBL Sports Complex here.

By stumps, openers Riffatullah Mohmand (7) and Ahmed Shahzad (5) negotiated 11 overs without trouble as the bankers reached 24 for no wicket.

Having won the toss, Younis Khan had hesitation in putting PIA into bat on a blustery morning. His decision paid off immediately when Fahad Masood removed openers Khurram Manzoor (1) and Yasir Hameed (8).

Kamran Sajid (37) and Faisal Iqbal (21) added 54 — the biggest stand of the day — but once they were gone, wickets fell steadily. The only batsman to get going was PIA and Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik.

Malik, making his first appearance in the championship, batted solidly to emerge as the top-scorer before he was superbly held at midwicket by Danish Kaneria off Shahid Afridi. His 95-ball 63 featured 10 boundaries.

Fahad Masood (3-35), Afridi (3-56) and Kaneria (2-28) shared the bowling honours. PIA`s last four wickets fell in 13 balls for the addition of only 12 runs.

From the third-round matches of the country`s premier cricket tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reintroduced the locally-manufactured Gray`s balls instead of the Kookaburra brand which were imported from Australia. The explanation from cash-strapped cricket board received from its officials that this step has been taken to cut down expenses.

In another third-round Pool `A` match, Sui Southern Gas Corporation (SSGC) scored a commendable 251-5 against current leaders National Bank at the NBP Sports Complex thanks to a fine fourth-wicket partnership of 140 between Wajid Ali, who is batting on 93 (11 fours and one six) and the in-form Saeed bin Nasir (70 off 117 balls, seven fours).

Pakistan Customs continued their poor run when they were dismissed for 196 by Karachi Whites at the Quaid-i-Azam Park in Steel Township with off-spinner Misbah Khan claiming four for 72. The regional team replied with 43 for no loss.

Shoaib Akhtar led from the front in his first game to give KRL upper hand against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, who were bowled for 145 at Rawalpindi`s KRL Stadium despite skipper Misbah-ul-Haq making 50. Shoaib (4-24 in 11.1 overs) and Yasir Arafat (4-54 in 18 overs) caused most of the damage. KRL reached 32-1 in reply.

Meanwhile, Lahore Ravi made 222 in their first innings against Karachi Blues in the Pool `B` fixture at the National Stadium despite an unbeaten 104 from Shahnawaz Malik, who struck 14 boundaries during his 159-ball knock.

Paceman Babar Rehman (4-79) and slow left-armer Adnan Kaleem (3-31) excelled for the home team who scored 36 without loss.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore Nawaz Sardar scored a maiden first-class century to help Wapda reach 270-5 in their first innings against Lahore Shalimar at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Nawaz, a 21-year-old right-handed batsman, made an unbeaten 121 (220 balls, 15 fours and one six) in only his eighth first-class appearance after Lahore Shalimar skipper Zulqarnain Haider invited Wapda to bat first.

Paceman Mohammad Naved captured four for 99 for the home side.

Faisalabad captain Ijaz Ahmed Jr hit up an undefeated 93 as the home team reached 224-5 against Quetta at the Iqbal Stadium.

Opener Aqeel Anjum held together the innings with unbeaten 86 as Hyderabad struggled 195-7 against Sialkot at the Jinnah Stadium.

Scores on Friday (day one of four)

Pool `A`

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi PIA 200 in 69.4 overs (Shoaib Malik 63); HABIB BANK 24-0 in 11 overs.

At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi SSGC 251-5 in 83 overs (Wajid Ali 93 not out, Saeed bin Nasir 70) v NATIONAL BANK.

At Quaid-i-Azam Park, Karachi PAKISTAN CUSTOMS 186 in 66.3 overs (Misbah Khan 4-72); KARACHI WHITES 43-0 in 21 overs.

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi SNGPL 145 in 54.1 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 52; Shoaib Akhtar 4-24, Yasir Arafat 4-54); KRL 32-1 in 13 overs.

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore WAPDA 270-5 in 78.1 overs (Nawaz Sardar 121 not out, Aamir Sajjad 53; Mohammad Naved 4-99) v LAHORE SHALIMAR.

Pool `B`

At National Stadium, Karachi LAHORE RAVI 222 in 70.4 overs (Shahnawaz Malik 104 not out; Babar Rehman 4-79); KARACHI BLUES 36-0 in 10 overs.At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad FAISALABAD 224-5 in 83 overs (Ijaz Ahmed Jr 93 not out; Mohammad Aslam 4-55) v QUETTA.

At Marghazar Ground, Islamabad MULTAN 148-9 in 47 overs (Rizwan Akbar 5-45) v RAWALPINDI.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad ABBOTTABAD 163 in 48.3 overs (Rauf Akbar 4-35); ISLAMABAD 30-1 in 8 overs.

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot HYDERABAD 195-7 in 70 overs (Aqeel Anjum 86 not out) v SIALKOT.