KARACHI, Nov 10: PIA skipper Asif Mujtaba claimed a hat trick as PWD failed to avert the follow on during a dramatic last session of the third day of the Patron’s Trophy Grade-I match at UBL Sports Complex here Saturday.

At tea, PWD appeared to be cruising along nicely at 299 for five in pursuit of 366 — the landmark which they needed to avert the follow on.

But then Mujtaba, the former Test stalwart who returned superb figures of five for 67 in 32 overs, produced a dram spell of slow left-arm bowling by capturing four of the last wickets that fell within a space of just 19 runs.

After dismissing Riaz Shaikh for 39, Mujtaba got rid of PWD skipper Iqbal Imam, who made 61 off 148 balls with four fours, Tanvir Ahmed and Rao Wasim off the first three deliveries of his 28th over.

The innings ended in dramatic fashion when veteran slow left-armer trapped Fahim Ahmed off the final ball of the day. Umpire Sadiq Mohammad kept everyone guessing for a few seconds before upholding the LBW appeal.

PWD now have to bat all day Sunday to deny PIA 12 points which would make the national carriers the runners-up to National Bank. PIA will look to Test off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to make up for his fruitless return of none for 57 in the PWD’s first innings.

Apart from Iqbal Imam, all-rounder Bilal Asad struck four fours and one six in his 54 off 76 balls. Iqbal and Bilal were involved in a 91-run fifth wicket partnership in 105 minutes.

Afsar Nawaz finished as the top-scorer in PWD’s total of 353. He was caught at slip off Shoaib Mohammad’s part-time off-spinners for 75, having resumed at 20 in the overnight score of 86 for one. Afsar’s 152-ball knock was laced with eight hits to the fence.