KARACHI, April 19: Omar Associates were sitting pretty in their quest for a Patron’s Trophy Grade-II cricket tournament’s semi-final berth after overwhelmingly dominating the first day’s play against Pakistan Steel in the last round of matches here on Thursday.
After bowling out Pakistan Steel for a measly first-innings total of 116, Omar Associates, who lead Group ‘A’ standings with 24 points, posted 201-2 in reply at the NBP Sports Complex with opener Fahad-ul-Haq (83) and Adnan Zaheer (93) sharing a second-wicket partnership of 174.
Second-placed Pakistan Navy were 75-4 after Sindh Police had been dismissed for 103 at the UBL Sports Complex. Slow left-armer Faraz Ahmed Khan claimed five for 41 for Navy.
Pakistan Customs, who are also in contention for a last-four spot, reached 111-4 in response to Saudi Cricket International’s first-innings tally of 255 at the Landhi Gymkhana Ground. Customs’ slow left-armer Fahim Ahmed took 6-88.
Port Qasim Authority (PQA) took a giant step towards making the semi-finals from Group ‘D’ by amassing 348-8 in 66 overs after Income Tax were sent packing for just 94 in their first innings at the Lahore Country Club in Muridke.
Kamran Younis, opening the innings, led the onslaught on Income Tax bowlers by smashing 111 off only 88 deliveries with the aid of 19 boundaries and one six.
Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) were happily placed despite losing seven wickets in the Group ‘D’ top-of-the-table clash against Sayid Paper Mills at the Jinnah Stadium.
Speedster Tabish Khan captured five for 54 to help KESC bowl out Sayid Paper Mills for 132. In reply, KESC went to stumps at 155-7 with Bismillah Khan making 48.
Close of play scores on Thursday (day one of three): Group ‘A’: At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi: PAKISTAN STEEL 113 in 32.3 overs (Khalid Khalil 49, Mohammad Sohail 20; Nasir Awais 4-19, Mohammad Azhar 2-11, Imad Wasim 2-22); OMAR ASSOCIATES 201-2 in 42.1 overs (Adnan Zaheer 93 not out, Fahad-ul-Haq 83; Zubair Khan 2-40).
At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: SINDH POLICE 103 in 43.5 overs (Gohar Ali 25, Ammar Hasan 23, Tariq Khan 20; Faraz Ahmed Khan 5-41, Abdul Latif 3-31); PAKISTAN NAVY 75-4 in 21 overs (Fakhar Zaman 28, Faraz Ahmed Khan 26; Tariq Khan 2-2, Saifullah 2-15).At Landhi Gymkhana Ground, Lahore: SAUDI CRICKET INTERNATIONAL 255 in 72.3 overs (Abdul Majeed 58, Nadeem Babar 45, Sanaullah 41, Shahzaib Khan 31, Kashif Sattar 31; Fahim Ahmed 6-88, Shoaib Leghari 2-58); PAKISTAN CUSTOMS 111-4 in 29 overs (Mohammad Waqas 61 not out, Saifullah Bangash 27; Baz Mohammad 3-27).
Group ‘B’: At Rawalpindi Cricket Ground, Rawalpindi: SSGC 162 in 33.4 overs (Ashraf Ali 26, Asif Zakir 25, Jamaluddin 21; Hamza Nadeem 5-41, Faisal Yasin 4-48); CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 85-4 in 24.5 overs (Faizan Riaz 35, Shoaib Khaliq 31; Sadaf Hussain 3-20).
At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: ARMY 331 in 65.3 overs (Sanaullah 159 not out, Shahid Khan 61, Mohammad Rashid 41, Khadim Jan 21; Raheel Majeed 4-52, Haseeb Azam 2-59, Riaz Afridi 2-111); PAKISTAN TELEVISION 5-0 in 0.1 over.
At National Cricket Ground, Islamabad: MEDICAM 151 in 58.1 overs (Abdur Rauf 31, Naved Sarwar 29, Naved Haider 23; Waqas Bhatti 5-34, Ahsan Ali Abbasi 3-1); HUMAK ENGINEERING 55-5 in 9 overs (Waqas Maqsood 3-28, Atif Jabbar 2-22).
Group ‘C’: At Lahore Country Club, Muridke: INCOME TAX 94 in 21.2 overs (Mohammad Azeem 48 not out; Mohammad Sami 4-28, Zohaib Shera 3-33); PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 348-8 in 66 overs (Kamran Younis 111, Shahzaib Hasan 64, Mohammad Waqas 49, Azam Hussain 32 not out, Asim Kamal 24; Ali Aslam 5-84, Inam Javed 2-98).
At LCCA Ground, Lahore: PAKISTAN AIR FORCE 270 in 77.3 overs (Haroon Ahmed 89, Rashid Butt 73, Shahid Khan 33, Mohammad Shahzad 26; Adeel Malik 5-54, Nabeel Malik 3-53); KARACHI PORT TRUST 39-1 in 14 overs.
At Railways Stadium, Lahore: HIGHER COMMISSION EDUCATION 289 in 77.4 overs (Adnan Khan 68, Shaafat Hussain 66, Tanvir Javed 50, Riffat Abbas 31, Najam Latif 28; Zainullah 3-30, Mohammad Adnan 3-38, Amit Ravi 3-83); PAKISTAN EDUCATION BOARD 81-4 in 22 overs (Amit Ravi 32 not out, Farhan Butt 26; Ali Teepu 3-32).
Group ‘D’: At Sheikhupura Stadium, Sheikhupura: SERVICE INDUSTRIES 165 in 60.2 overs (Farhan Asghar 51, Wahab Riaz 34, Shoaib Shah 26; Shakeel Shah 4-44, Altaf Ahmed 3-63, Mohammad Bilal 2-34); CANDYLAND 176-3 in 30 overs (Fawad Khan 94, Najam Nisar 37; Naveed Babar 2-27).
At Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala: SAYID PAPER MILLS 132 in 44.1 overs (Mohammad Waqas 36; Tabish Khan 5-54); KESC 155-7 in 34 overs (Bismillah Khan 48).