Azan’s record-setting ton puts Eshaal Associates in control against HEC

KARACHI: In-form emerging batter Azan Awais scored an anchoring century to put Eshaal Associates in a commanding position on the third day of the first-round President’s Trophy Grade-I match against Higher Education Commission (HEC) here at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.

Azan, who finished the recently-concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 as the leading run-scorer, continued his rich vein of form in the ongoing tournament and scored an important century, which took his first-class runs tally past the thousand barrier in just 15 innings.

The left-handed opening batter top-scored for Eshaal Associates in the second innings, smashing a defiant 119 from 171 balls, laced with 15 fours and a six.

His magnificent knock helped Eshaal Associates to declare their second innings at 288/8, setting a daunting 406-run target for the HEC.

In return, the HEC had been reduced to 136/5 by the conclusion of the penultimate day despite top-order batter Mohammad Zubair’s half-century.

Zubair scored 51 off 59 deliveries until falling victim to Usman Tariq, who has picked up three wickets thus far.

Wicketkeeper batter Mehmood Nawaz Afridi and Obaid Shahid, unbeaten on one and 28 respectively, will resume HEC’s pursuit as they need a further 270 runs.

In the first match of the President’s Trophy Grade-I, half-centuries from Mubasir Khan and Arafat Minhas powered defending champions Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) to a 314-run lead over Pakistan Television (PTV).

Earlier in the day, PTV were bowled out for 333 runs in response to SNGPL’s first innings’ 406. Top-order Mohammad Taha remained the top-scorer with an anchoring 86-run knock, followed by Muhammad Shahzad, who scored 70.

Shehzad Gul and Aftab Ibrahim took three wickets each for the SNGPL, while Bilawal Bhatti claimed two.

In another first-round match of the first-class tournament, wicketkeeper batter Muhammad Akhlaq’s century put Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in touching distance of a massive victory over Khan Research Laboratories (KRL).

Akhlaq top-scored with 125 from 181 deliveries, studded with 18 fours and two sixes, while Ayaz Tasawar made important contribution with a 98-run knock, as WAPDA declared their second innings at 313/7, setting a 431-run target for KRL.

In response, KRL were 98/4 with wicketkeeper batter Saad Baig and Shahid Aziz in the middle.

In the fourth first-round match of the President’s Trophy Grade-I, skipper Adil Amin’s second innings’ century helped Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) to set a 369-run target to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), who, in response were 84/2 at the conclusion of the third day’s action.