President's Trophy Grade-I: Abdullah's ton leads SBP to fighting total against Ghani Glass

KARACHI: Top-order batter Abdullah Fazal scored a gutsy century to power State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to a fighting total on the opening day of their second-round President's Trophy Grade-I match against Ghani Glass here at the NBP Sports Complex on Saturday.

Put into bat first, the SBP accumulated 202 all out in 58 overs, courtesy of Fazal's lone battle.

The left-handed batter top-scored with an anchoring 113 off 176 deliveries, studded with 15 fours, while Qasim Akram was the next-best run-getter with 21.

Afaq Afridi was the standout bowler for Ghani Glass, taking four wickets, followed by Ubaid Shah with three. Test pacer Mir Hamza bagged two, while Tayyab Tahir made one scalp.

In response, Mohammad Abbas and Kashif Ali ran through Ghani Glass's top order and reduced them to 31/4 in 20 overs by the end of the first day's play.

Middle-order batters Tayyab and Mohammad Rameez, unbeaten on 19 and one, respectively, will resume Ghani Glass's response on the subsequent day.

At the UBL Sports Complex, a collective bowling effort put Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in control against defending champions Pakistan Television (PTV).

Put into bat first, the holders were booked for a meagre 199 in 57.1 overs despite Mohammad Taha's half-century up the order.

Taha top-scored for PTV with 63 off 116 deliveries, featuring nine fours and a six, followed by all-rounder Arafat Minhas, who made a 35-ball 33.

Muhammad Umar led OGDCL's bowling charge with a four-wicket haul, while Muhammad Imran chipped in with three.

In response, OGDCL reached 73/1 in 21 overs before the stumps were drawn, with opener Israrullah and Umar Siddiq unbeaten on 47 and four, respectively.

Israr Hussain remained the solitary wicket-taker for PTV on the opening day, dismissing opening batter Sameer Saqib, who could score 10.

In another second-round match of the President's Trophy Grade-I, Aqib Khan's five-wicket haul gave Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) a head start against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) on the opening day here at the SBP Sports Complex.

Put into bat first, SNGPL's batting unit could yield 147 runs before being bowled out in 60.3 overs.

Middle-order batter Omair Bin Yousuf remained the top-scorer with 45 off 130 deliveries, followed by Saad Khan, who could muster 21.

Aqib spearheaded WAPDA's bowling charge with a five-wicket haul, while Naqeebullah and Mohammad Adil chipped in with two scalps each.

In turn, WAPDA had amassed 63/1 in 16 overs before the conclusion of the pulsating opening day.

Top-order batters Imran Dogar and Mohammad Ammar, unbeaten on 33 and 24, respectively, will resume WAPDA's response on the second day.

Right-arm pacer Shahnawaz Dahani remained the only wicket-taker for SNGPL on the opening day.

At the National Bank Stadium here, Arshad Iqbal's three wickets kept Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the hunt against Sahir Associates on the opening day of their second-round President's Trophy Grade-I fixture.

Put into bat first, KRL were bowled out for a modest 204 in 54.2 overs despite Saad Baig's half-century up the order.

The wicket-keeper batter remained the top-scorer with a brisk 64 off 83 deliveries, followed by middle-order batter Hamza Nazar, who made a 54-ball 46, while the rest of the batters failed to score significantly.

For Sahir Associates, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Mohsin Khan and Bilawal bagged two wickets each, while Mohammad Afzal, Khan Zaib and Ataullah Khan chipped in with one scalp apiece.

In response, Arshad dismantled Sahir Associates' top order by dismissing Faham-ul-Haq, Fahad Usman and captain Asim Ali Nasir cheaply, while Ahmed Bashir landed a gruelling blow in the dying minutes of the opening day by getting rid of set batter Mohammad Faiq, who remained their top-scorer with 24.

Middle-order batters Mohammad Basit and Ataullah Khan, unbeaten on three and one, respectively, will resume Sahir Associates' response from 46/4 as they trail by a further 158 runs with six wickets in hand.