KARACHI: Pakistan’s top-order limited-overs batsman Nasir Jamshed struck his first century of the season on Tuesday to put National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in the driving seat against United Bank Limited (UBL) on the first day of the their eighth-round President’s Trophy Grade-I National Cricket Championship fixture in Rawalpindi.
The 22-year-old opener scored an unbeaten 101 as NBP reached a commanding 196-1 after bottom-placed team UBL, who had been asked to bat first by NBP skipper Fawad Alam, were bundled out for 101 in their first innings at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Nasir, who reached three figures for the 16th time in 71 first-class matches, adorned his 144-ball innings with 14 boundaries and one six, while dominating the ongoing second-wicket partnership of 155 with Bilal Munir (35).
Earlier, pacemen Mohammad Imran Khan and Wahab Riaz proved unplayable for the hapless UBL batsmen as they accounted for all but one wicket. Right-arm Imran continued his impressive form in the championship with 5-38 in 15.5 overs. Wahab, the Pakistan left-armer, finished with 4-14 in six overs. Saad Surkhail was the top-scorer for UBL with a 66-ball 33.
Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) outside chances of making the final appear gloomy after they managed a modest 267-9 against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.
After skipper Kamran Sajid won the toss, PIA lost half their side for 138 before defiant batting from Sarfraz Ahmed (34), Anwar Ali (49) and Tahir Khan (57 not out) gave the total some respectability. Opener Agha Sabir had earlier scored 48.
PIA went into this vital match without Shoaib Malik after the former Pakistan captain reportedly left for Dubai with his Indian tennis-famed wife Sania Mirza.
In the top-of-the-table clash at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) were all out for 232 just before stumps against Habib Bank Limited (HBL) after Azhar Ali, standing in as captain in absence of both Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez, chose to bat first after winning the toss.
The stand-in skipper, in fact, was the top-scorer with a solid 127-ball innings of 56 that lasted 204 minutes. Azhar, who hit nine fours and one six, put on 75 for the third wicket with the consistent Ali Waqas. The left-handed Ali, the leading batsman in the competition, took his tally of runs to 575 by scoring 44.
Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal made 21 off 24 balls after allegedly a fall-out with the SNGPL team management over some issues related to his attitude which saw him being sidelined for several matches by his employers.
The left-arm pace-cum-spin duo of Abdul Ameer and Aslam Qureshi shared six wickets between them with Umar Gul and Ehsan Adil sharing the remaining wickets.
Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) were sitting pretty after closing at 175-4 in reply to Port Qasim Authority (PQA)’s 148 at the Marghazar Cricket Ground in the federal capital.
PQA, who had been inserted in by ZTBL captain Imran Nazir, made a promising start with Khurram Manzoor (54) and skipper Khalid Latif (29) adding 44 for the opening wicket. But once the partnership ended, the wickets began falling at regular intervals.
Paceman Sohail Tanvir, Junaid Nadir and spinning all-rounder Zohaib Khan all grabbed three wickets apiece.
State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) were 27-1 after bowling out Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) for 202 in their first innings at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.
Unheralded Sohaib Maqsood, who has considerably enhanced his profile this season, was again the shining light for Wapda after SBP skipper Kashif Siddique decided that fielding first would be the best option at the toss.
The 25-year-old right-hander from Multan went past the 500-run mark in the competition with a 77-ball contribution of 51.
Close of play scores on Tuesday (day one of four): At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: WATER AND POWER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 202 in 76.4 overs (Sohaib Maqsood 51, Aamir Sajjad 34, Sarfraz Ahmed 34; Adnan Rasool 3-48, Rizwan Haider 3-52, Hasan Mahmood 2-31, Kashif Siddique 2-49); STATE BANK OF PAKISTAN 27-1 in 7 overs (Kashif Siddique 24 not out).
At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: UNITED BANK LIMITED 101 in 39.5 overs (Saad Surkhail 33; Mohammad Imran Khan 5-38, Wahab Riaz 4-14); NATIONAL BANK OF PAKISTAN 196-1 in 41 overs (Nasir Jamshed 101 not out, Bilal Munir 35 not out).
At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi: PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 267-9 in 81.4 overs (Tahir Khan 57 not out, Anwar Ali 49, Agha Sabir 48, Sarfraz Ahmed 34; Ali Khan 3-40, Rahat Ali 3-69, Nayyar Abbas 3-78) v KHAN RESEARCH LABORATORIES.
At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: SUI NORTHERN GAS PIPELINES LIMITED 232 in 68.5 overs (Azhar Ali 56, Ali Waqas 44, Mohammad Rizwan 31; Abdul Ameer 3-57, Aslam Qureshi 3-63, Ehsan Adil 2-37, Umar Gul 2-54) v HABIB BANK LIMITED.
At Marghazar Cricket Ground, Islamabad: PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 148 in 36.4 overs (Khurram Manzoor 54; Zohaib Khan 3-15, Junaid Nadir 3-22, Sohail Tanvir 3-45); ZARAI TARAQIATI BANK LIMITED 175-4 in 36.2 overs (Sharjeel Khan 46, Afaq Raheem 40, Babar Azam 36 not out, Imran Nazir 34 not out; Azam Hussain 2-42).