President's Trophy Grade-I: OGDCL stun holders PTV in second round

KARACHI: A collective bowling and batting effort helped Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) to register a thumping eight-wicket victory over defending champions Pakistan Television (PTV) on the third day of their second-round President's Trophy Grade-I match here at the UBL Sports Complex on Monday.

Set to chase a modest 111-run target, the OGDCL comfortably knocked the winning runs in 21.5 overs, losing just two wickets in the process.

Umar Siddiq and Haroon Arshad, both 40, remained the joint top-scorers for the side in the run chase, while wicketkeeper batter Rohail Nazir chipped in with 25 not out.

Earlier in the day, PTV resumed their second innings from 22/0, trailing by 103 runs, and went on to finish at 214 all out in 54.5 overs.

Captain Shamyl Hussain top-scored for PTV in the second innings with a 28-ball 34, followed by emerging all-rounder Arafat Minhas, who made 32.

Mohammad Umar was the standout bowler for OGDCL, taking four wickets for 57 runs in his 16.5 overs. He was supported by Muhammad Imran, who picked up three, while Mushtaq Ahmed bagged two.

At the National Bank Stadium, Mohammad Hamza's six-wicket haul helped Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) successfully defend a 228-run target as they booked Sahir Associates for 221 to secure an enthralling six-run victory on the third day of the second-round President's Trophy Grade-I match.

Middle-order batter Mohammad Faiq and captain Asim Ali Nasir resumed Sahir Associates' pursuit at the commencement of the penultimate day with the scoreboard reading 42/4.

The duo stretched their overnight partnership past the 100-run mark as both scored half-centuries, but Hamza's six-wicket haul barred them from steering their side over the line.

Faiq remained the top-scorer with 70 off 116 deliveries, while Asim made 65 from 122 balls. Mohammad Afzal also made a notable contribution with a run-a-ball 43.

Hamza led KRL's bowling charge in the second innings with magnificent bowling figures of 6/72 in 16 overs. He was supported by Arshad Iqbal, who made three scalps, while Ahmed Bashir chipped in with one.

In another second-round President's Trophy Grade-I match, played here at the NBP Sports Complex, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) romped to a resounding 202-run victory over Ghani Glass on the penultimate day.

At the commencement of the decisive third day, SBP resumed their second innings from 194/3, leading by 166 runs, and went on to add 113 more to their overnight score to eventually finish at 307 all out in 75.1 overs.

Centurion Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and Rameez Aziz stretched their overnight partnership to 179 runs, which played a pivotal role in setting a humongous 336-run target.

Ghori remained the top-scorer with a monumental 138 off 139 deliveries, studded with 22 fours, while Rameez made 82 from 178 balls with the help of nine fours.

Mir Hamza was the pick of the bowlers for Ghani Glass as he registered a five-wicket haul for 63 runs in his 23 overs. Afaq Afridi bagged three wickets, while Mohammad Rameez Jnr made one scalp.

Set to chase 336, Ghani Glass's batting unit could yield 133 before getting bowled out in 32.3 overs despite experienced opener Sharjeel Khan's half-century.

Sharjeel remained the top-scorer in the second innings with a 71-ball 59, while Saad Naseem (22) and Rameez Jnr (11) were the other two batters to amass double figures.

Kashif Bhatti led SBP's bowling charge in the second innings with a five-wicket haul and was adequately supported by senior pacer Mohammad Abbas, who made three scalps, while Mohammad Ismail chipped in with two strikes.

In the eighth match of the President's Trophy Grade-I, Naqeebullah's four-wicket haul in the second innings led Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) here at the SBP Sports Complex.

Set to chase a meagre 55-run target, WAPDA struck the winning runs in 13.4 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Opening batter Muhammad Akhlaq top-scored with a 21-ball 16, while Muhammad Ammar and Sharoon Siraj remained unbeaten on 13 and 11, respectively.

For SNGPL, Mohammad Salman remained the solitary wicket-taker in the second innings as he dismissed both WAPDA openers.

At the commencement of the third day's play, SNGPL resumed their second innings from 33/1, trailing by a further 96 runs, and eventually finished at 183 all out in 66 overs despite Azan Awais's half-century up the order.

The opening batter remained the top-scorer in the second innings with an anchoring 70 off 131 deliveries, while middle-order batter Muhammad Awais Zafar was the other notable run-getter, making a 78-ball 46.

Naqeebullah spearheaded WAPDA's bowling charge in the second innings with four wickets, followed by Mohammad Adil and Aqib Khan with two each, while Sharoon chipped in with one.

For the unversed, the third round of the President's Trophy Grade-I will run from January 9 to 12 across five venues here.