KARACHI, Feb 4: Tailenders Kashif Raza and Azharullah performed heroics as Wapda pulled off a thrilling one-wicket victory over Karachi Whites in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Group ‘A’ match at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.

Wapda resumed the final day of the four-day fixture at 99-7 in pursuit of a target of 170 with their hopes of victory depending on Bilal Khilji, the only recognized batsman remaining.

But when the left-handed Bilal perished after adding just three runs to his overnight 44, trapped leg-before-wicket by left-arm paceman Malik Aftab, Karachi Whites were back in the game.

However, Azharullah, who had come to the crease late on Tuesday, kept his cool as the lanky figure of Sarfraz Ahmed (19) helped add 33 for the ninth wicket. When Sarfraz was dismissed at 135, it seemed that Wapda had lost the match.

But Kashif joined Azharullah to steer their team to a splendid win in an unbroken stand of 38 with Kashif taking the role of an aggressor. He blasted five fours and one six in making 33 off 31 balls. The admirable Azharullah returned unbeaten on a 99-ball 24.

KRL, meanwhile, completed an easy seven-wicket win against PIA at the Mirpur Cricket Stadium in Azad Jammu Kashmir to move into second spot in this group.

Starting the day at 74-2, KRL lost another wicket before finishing the match by reaching 126-3.

KRL have 33 points to Group ‘A’ leaders National Bank’s 36 with both outfits having played six matches.

In Group ‘B’ ties, Rawalpindi and Islamabad also scored com-

fortable wins.

Rawalpindi thrashed Karachi Blues by eight wickets at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi. The home team, chasing 170, lost openers Zahid Mansoor (29) and Babar Naeem (56) after the pair added 80 for the first wicket. But Awais Zia (41) and Usman Saeed (33) guided them home by putting on 68 for the unfinished third-wicket stand.

Earlier, Karachi Blues added 27 runs before losing the last four wickets to be all out for 3254 in the second innings. The second-placed Rawalpindi are three points behind Sialkot in Group ‘B’ with 36 points

Islamabad eased to a crushing 280-run win against hosts Hyderabad at the Niaz Stadium after taking the last seven wickets on Wednesday for 22 runs. Resuming at 110-3, Hyderabad were bundled out for 137 with left-arm pacer Saad Altaf (5-51) and off-spinner Hussain (5-41) sharing the limelight. Kamran ended up with match figures of nine for 75.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore: National Bank surged back to the top of Group ‘A’ standings after handing ZTBL a comprehensive 283-run defeat at the Gaddafi Stadium.

ZTBL virtually had lost the game when they lost five for 89 on Tuesday after National Bank asked them to chase a daunting 437-run target. But ZTBL managed only 153 in the second innings.

Rising paceman Mohammad Talha put himself in contention for the coming Test series against Sri Lanka by claiming eight wickets in this game, including four for 60 in ZTBL’s second innings.

Meanwhile, the game between Lahore Shalimar and Pakistan Customs petered out in a draw at the LCCA Ground. The highlight being the fine bowling of slow left-armer Ghulam Mustafa’s 11 wickets in the match.

Another pace bowler to shine was Abdur Rauf, who excelled with a 12-wicket haul as his team Multan whipped Peshawar by 10 wicket s in a Group ‘B’ tie at the Multan Cricket. Stadium.

After taking 7-84 in the first innings, the Multan skipper captured 5-63 in Peshawar’s second innings of 124 to finish 12 for 147 in the match.

Group ‘B’ leaders Sialkot had to settle for three first-innings’ points after an unbeaten 103 from Ashraf Ali guided Lahore Ravi to 327-6 in the second innings at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot.

Scores and results on Wednesday (final day of four):

Group A’:

At National Stadium, Karachi: Wapda beat Karachi Whites by one wicket.

KARACHI WHITES 133 in 44 overs (Ali Asad 67 not out; Kashif Raza 5-44) and 262 in (Khalid Latif 81; Azharullah 4-83); WAPDA 226 in 86.4 overs (Jahangir Mirza 77, Ahmed Said 63; Tanvir Ahmed 6-77) and 173-9 in 56.4 overs (Malik Aftab 4-42).

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: National Bank beat ZTBL by 283 runs.

NATIONAL BANK 225 in 66.3 overs (Naumanullah 56, Fawad Alam 55; Rao Iftikhar 4-56) and 358-6 declared in 80.2 overs (Salman Butt 202, Fawad Alam 58); ZTBL 147 in 42.4 overs (Mohammad Aamir 4-44, Mohammad Talha 4-53) and 153 in 52.1 overs (Wahab Riaz 4-24, Mohammad Talha 4-60).

At Mirpur Cricket Stadium, Azad Jammu Kashmir: KRL beat PIA by seven wickets.

PIA 152 in 53.5 overs (Sohail Tanvir 8-54) and 248 in 83.4 overs (Faisal Iqbal 52; Sohail Tanvir 7-120)’ KRL 275 in 74.5 overs (Saeed Anwar Jr 89, Sohail Tanvir 52 not out; Najaf Shah 5-103) and 126-3 in 31.5 overs.

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: Match drawn.

PAKISTAN CUSTOMS 325 in 86.3 overs (Rameez Raja 87, Zahoor Elahi 81; Ghulam Mustafa 6-97, Mohammad Naveed 4-120) and 310 in 78.5 overs (Mohammad Hussain 87; Ghulam Mustafa 5-128); LAHORE SHALIMAR 360 in 120.2 overs (Abid Ali 114, Raza Ali Dar 80, Ahmed Dar 73; Yasir Hussain 7-91) and 131-2 in 35 overs (Abid Ali 69, Saadullah Ghauri 58 not out).

Group ‘B’:

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: Islamabad beat Hyderabad by 280 runs.

ISLAMABAD 258 in 74.3 overs (Rauf Akbar 116; Lal Kumar 4-52) and 332-8 declared in 87 overs (Rauf Akbar 77, Umair Khan 70, Imad Wasim 56 not out; Lal Kumar 4-83); HYDERABAD 173 in 58 overs (Kamran Hussain 4-34) and 137 in 39.3 overs (Kamran Hussain 5-41, Saad Altaf 5-51).

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi beat Karachi Blues by eight wickets.

RAWALPINDI 289 in 78.4 overs (Awais Zia 147 not out; Tabish Khan 5-57) and 171-2 in 36.4 overs (Babar Naeem 56): KARACHI BLUES 134 in 54.2 overs (Rizwan Akbar 5-46) and 324 in 116.4 overs (Shahzaib Hasan 95, Shaharyar Ghani 74; Mohammad Rameez 4-101).At Multan Cricket Stadium: Multan beat Peshawar by 10 wickets.

PESHAWAR 341 in 99.3 overs (Naveed Khan 70, Mohammad Idrees 63, Mahfooz Sabri 62; Abdur Rauf 7-84) and 124 in 36.2 overs (Abdur Rauf 5-63); MULTAN 451 in 123.5 overs (Usman Tariq 171, Naveed Yasin 130, Gulraiz Sadaf 60 not out) and 17-0 in 1.4 overs. At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: Match drawn.

LAHORE RAVI 287 in 83.4 overs (Sohail Ahmed 68, Ali Raza 57 not out; Bilawal Bhatti 4-87) and 327-6 in 94 overs (Ashraf Ali 103 not out, Ali Haider 61, Shahnawaz Malik 56); SIALKOT 385 in 128.1 overs (Ayaz Tasawwar 93, Naeemuddin 64; Sohail Ahmed 4-67).