KARACHI: Pakistan pace spearhead Umar Gul registered a hat-trick as Habib Bank Limited (HBL) staged a superb comeback on day three to leave the President’s Trophy Grade-I National Cricket Championship final against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in an interesting stage at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.

After letting SNGPL enjoy a substantial lead of 146 by collecting a measly 137 in their forgetful first innings, HBL hit back in a sensational last session as SNGPL lost six wickets for 60 runs before reaching 177-9 in their second innings when stumps were drawn for the day.

SNGPL, who hold an overall lead of 323, will look to add a few more runs through the last pair of Samiullah Khan Niazi (11) and Asad Ali (8) on the fourth morning of what has become an absorbing contest with the pitch still playing true barring a few deliveries which kept low.

HBL skipper Younis Khan is confident that a target of 320-plus is achievable as his charges are determined to make amends for their atrocious batting display on Tuesday afternoon when the bankers lost wickets in clatter.

Umar Gul, the 28-year-old right-armer, grabbed six wickets for 64 runs in 18 overs and was chiefly responsible for putting SNGPL on the back foot after they were cruising along nicely with Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal sharing a third-wicket partnership of 87.

But it was the occasional spin of Asad Shafiq which provided his side the much-needed breakthrough. Asad bagged his maiden first-class wicket when Azhar was caught down the leg side by Humayun Farhat for a 78-ball 31 (for boundaries).

Paceman Fahad Masood, who was immediately brought on by Younis, then dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq and Ali Waqas — SNGPL’s chief run-getters in the first innings — in successive deliveries for ducks before the Akmal brothers, Umar and Adnan, added 30.

Umar Gul — who took four wickets for six runs in 18 balls — broke that stand when Umar Akmal, who played some delightful strokes in making a fine 76 off 121 balls (12 fours and one six) fell leg-before-wicket with the last ball of his 12th over before dismissing Imran Khalid and Imran Ali, both being caught behind, with the first two deliveries of his next over to get the coveted hat-trick under his belt.

Umar then capped his fine day by having Adnan Akmal nicely held in the deep by Fahad Masood.

Earlier in the day, Ahmed Shehzad, who was batting on 37 in his team’s 90-7, scored almost 58 per cent of the 137 runs made by HBL. The temperamental young right-hander was last out, while trying to cut Mohammad Hafeez against the spin, after contributing 79 off 156 balls with the aid of 12 fours. Hafeez finished with fine analysis of 4-16 in 13.4 overs.