KARACHI: There were hat-trick heroes in both the matches played in the Pakistan Premier Football League on Friday.

Kaleemullah slammed his sixth hat-trick as table toppers Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) overcame 10-man PMC Athletico 3-0 while Sanaullah’s treble helped Baloch FC thump National Bank (NBP) 4-1.

Kaleemullah responded to his call-up to the national team with a second-half treble at the KRL Football Stadium in Rawalpindi as the defending champions moved three points clear of second-placed Army. KRL have 46 points and also have two games in hand over Army.

After a goalless first half, Kaleemullah scored the first goal in the 66th  minute on the rebound after missing a penalty kick.

PMC were reduced to ten men when their influential midfielder Haroon Yousuf was given his marching orders in the 81st.

With PMC down by a man, Kaleemullah took full advantage as he took his tally to 23 in the league with his second goal in the 86th before completing his hat-trick three minutes later.

“Kaleemullah is a goal-scoring machine who is a product of the KRL and Pakistan football needs a goal-scorer like him,” KRL coach Tariq Lutfi told Dawn.

In Noushki, a sensational first-half hat-trick by Sanaullah helped keep Baloch FC’s hopes of staying up in the PPFL alive while denting NBP’s chances of mounting a title bid. Second from bottom Baloch FC now have 12 points, just two behind PMC Athletico.

Sanaullah struck in the third minute of the match at the Noushki Football Stadium before Khalil Ahmed doubled Baloch FC’s lead with a goal in the 17th.

Baloch FC went into half-time with a 4-0 advantage after Sanaullah scored his second in the 30th before completing his treble in the 45th.

The second half was tarnished by a scuffle that broke out between NBP’s Misbah-ul-Haq and Baloch FC goalkeeper Sher Zaman which resulted in with both players being sent off in the 75th before Adnan struck NBP’s consolation six minutes from time.

Saturday’s fixtures: PAF v Wapda (PAF Complex Ground, Peshawar); Afghan FC v KPT (Government High School, Chaman).—Sports Reporter