KARACHI, Feb 19: Yasir Hameed struck a career-best 207 to put PIA in driving seat on the third-day of the Quaid-i-Azam National Cricket Championship final against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at National Stadium on Wednesday.

Yasir, the right-hander from Peshawar who made a match-winning century against Rawalpindi in the semifinal, belted 27 fours in his superb knock as PIA ended the day at 445 for seven in reply to KRL’s first innings score of 263.

PIA are now 182 runs ahead in the five-day contest with skipper Moin Khan hoping to extend this lead on Thursday. The former Pakistan captain is still at the crease on an enterprising 70 in just 79 minutes. Moin’s 91-ball innings includes 10 boundaries.

However, the day belonged to 25-year-old Yasir. It was a pity that hardly 100 people were able to watch such a wonderful exhibition of batsmanship from this talented lad.

Yasir was eventually run out by a direct throw from mid-on by substitute fieldsman Azhar Ali. He batted four minutes over nine hours and negotiated 345 deliveries.

PIA scored at a brisk rate all day. They were 185 for two at lunch and 288 for four at the tea interval.

Resuming at 131 for one, PIA lost opener Kamran Sajid for a patient 43. He was caught behind off Jaffar Nazir after occupying the crease for 247 minutes.

The second-wicket partnership between the left-handed Kamran and Yasir realized 134 in 129 minutes.

Yasir was also involved in another productive stand when he and Moin put on exactly 100 in just 87 minutes.

Yasir, who reached his seventh first-class century in 336 minutes off 225 balls with 11 hits to the fence, batted with a great deal of concentration.

KRL, on the other hand, made a belated fight back in the final session when they rid of Faisal Iqbal (5), Bazid Khan (19) and Shoaib Malik (10). But by then it was too late.

Paceman Jaffar Nazir bowled well under difficult circumstances to to finish the day with four for 96 in 29 overs.

Fellow pacer Mohammad Asif came for rough treatment from both Moin and Yasir and conceded as many as 164 runs in 38 overs for his two wickets.