President's Trophy: Bowlers put WAPDA on brink of innings victory over Sahir Associates

KARACHI: 19-year-old pacer dismantled Sahir Associates' batting unit to steer Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) close to an innings victory on the second day of their third-round President's Trophy Grade-I match here at the UBL Sports Complex on Saturday.

At the stumps on day two, Sahir Associates were languishing at 94/5 in their second innings, trailing by a further 126 runs to avoid the hammering defeat.

Earlier in the day, WAPDA resumed their first innings from 307/6 but could add 16 more to their overnight score for the remaining four wickets and were thus bowled out for 323 in 89.2 overs.

Mohammad Ammar remained the top-scorer with 147 off 274 deliveries, while skipper Khalid Usman made a handy contribution with an anchoring 93.

For Sahir Associates, Razaullah and Khan Zaib bagged four wickets each, while Bilawal made one scalp.

In response, Sahir Associates were bowled out for a meagre 103 in 39.2 overs despite captain Asim Ali Nasir's half-century and succumbed to a 220-run deficit.

The skipper waged a lone battle for his side and top-scored with a gutsy 58 off 99 deliveries, laced with 10 boundaries. Besides him, only Mohammad Saleem (21) could amass double figures.

Mohammad Adil led WAPDA's bowling charge in the first innings with a four-wicket haul, while Naqeebullah and Zeeshan shared six between them.

With a massive advantage in their favour, WAPDA captain Usman forced Sahir Associates to follow on.

Sahir Associates' batting unit struggled in the second innings as well, as they had been reduced to 94/5 in 30 overs before stumps were drawn.

Opening batter Fahad Usman remained the top-scorer with a 37-ball 28, followed by Saleem, who will resume their second innings on the penultimate day with unmarked Bilawal.

Zeeshan has been the standout bowler for WAPDA in the second innings as he has taken four wickets for just 18 runs in his 11 overs, while Adil chipped in with one.

In another third-round President's Trophy Grade-I match, Amad Butt's four-wicket haul helped defending champions Pakistan Television (PTV) to fight back against Ghani Glass on the second day.

At the conclusion of the second day's play, the holders were 153/7, leading by 116 runs, with experienced all-rounder Butt and Musa Khan unbeaten on 13 and two, respectively.

Earlier in the day, Ghani Glass resumed their first innings from 109/5 in response to PTV's 186 all out and finished at 223 all out in 57.2 overs.

No.9 batter Khurram Shahzad remained the top-scorer with a 40-ball 48, followed by wicketkeeper Yahya Bin Abdul Rehman, who made 43 off 74 deliveries.

The duo also shared a 46-run partnership for the eighth-wicket, which bolstered their total past the 200-run mark.

Butt led PTV's bowling charge in the first innings with a four-wicket haul, followed by Israr Hussain and Mohammad Ilyas Khan with two each, while Musa and Arafat Minhas made one scalp apiece.

Trailing by 37 runs, the defending champions reached 153/7 in 49 overs before the conclusion of the second day's play.

Middle-order batter Mohammad Suleman remained the top-scorer with 45 off 72 deliveries, followed by all-rounder Minhas and opener Yasir Khan, who made 34 and 30, respectively.

For Ghani Glass, Mir Hamza and captain Noman Ali have taken two wickets each, while Afaq Afridi and Khurram made one scalp apiece.

At the SBP Sports Complex here, Shehzad Gul's maiden first-class five-wicket haul strengthened Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited's (SNGPL) command against home side State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on the second day of their third-round President's Trophy Grade-I match.

Earlier in the day, SNGPL resumed their first innings from 197/4 and went on to finish at 263 all out in 102.5 overs.

Leading the way for them was opening batter Azan Awais, who top-scored with an anchoring 129 off 295 deliveries, studded with 16 fours and a six, while skipper Shan Masood remained the other notable run-getter with his 72-ball 35 on the opening day.

For SBP, Shahiz Aziz took four wickets for 57 runs in his 23.5 overs, followed by Niaz Khan and Mohammad Ismail with two each, while Mohammad Abbas and Qasim Akram made one scalp apiece.

In turn, SBP's batting unit folded for a meagre 115 in 32.4 overs despite Rameez Aziz's anchoring a 43-run knock.

Shehzad led SNGPL's bowling charge with a five-wicket haul, closely followed by Shahnawaz Dahani, who bagged four wickets, while Bilawal Bhatti chipped in with one.

With a 148-run advantage in their favour, SNGPL's top-order faltered in the second innings as the side finished the pulsating day at 23/3 with skipper Shan Masood and nightwatchman Mohammad Ali unbeaten on eight and zero, respectively.

For SBP, Mohammad Abbas has taken two wickets in the second innings, while Niaz Khan bagged one.

In another third-round President's Trophy Grade-I match, half-centuries from Saad Baig, Waqar Ahmed and Imran Rafiq on the second day put Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) into the lead against Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).

At the stumps on day two, KRL were comfortably placed at 305/5, leading by 61 runs, with Imran and Hamza Nazar unbeaten on 54 and four, respectively.

Waqar Ahmed remained the top-scorer for KRL with a brisk 81 off 107 deliveries, closely followed by wicketkeeper batter Saad Baig, who made 80. The duo also shared a 162-run partnership for the second wicket, recovering KRL from 12/1.

For OGDCL, Muhammad Imran, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Huzaifa, Jawad Ali and skipper Adil Amin have taken one wicket apiece in the first innings thus far.