President's Trophy Grade-I: Five-star Asif headlines opening day of fourth round

KARACHI: Experienced spinner Asif Afridi's five-wicket haul helped Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) restrict Sahir Associates to 245/8 on the opening day of their fourth-round President's Trophy Grade-I match here at the KCCA Stadium on Thursday.

Middle-order batter Mohammad Saleem, unbeaten on 40, alongside unmarked No.10 Khan Zaib, will resume Sahir Associates' first innings on the second day.

Sahir Associates, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as they had been reduced to 32/2 inside 14 overs before half-centuries from Mohammad Faiq and captain Asim Ali Nasir launched a recovery by putting together 97 runs for the third wicket.

Faiq remained the top-scorer with an anchoring 93 off 188 deliveries, while Asim chipped in with a 115-ball 59.

Asif was the standout bowler for OGDCL on the opening day, returning magnificent figures of 5/72 in 33.1 overs, while Mohammad Huzaifa, Jawad Ali and captain Adil Amin made one scalp apiece.

At the National Bank Stadium here, in-form Shehzad Gul's four-wicket haul helped Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) book defending champions Pakistan Television for a modest 166 in 66.2 overs.

All-rounder Amad Butt remained the top-scorer for the holders with an unbeaten 46 off 64 deliveries, followed by top-order batter Mohammad Taha, who made a cautious 38 from 129 balls.

Shehzad bagged four wickets for 40 runs in his 16.2 overs, while Shahnawaz Dahani and Sajid Khan took two each.

In response, SNGPL had reached 58/3 in 18 overs before the stumps were drawn at the iconic venue.

Top-order batter Omair Bin Yousuf and nightwatchman Mohammad Ali, unbeaten on 26 and four, respectively, will resume their response on the subsequent day as they trail 108 runs with seven wickets in hand.

At the UBL Sports Complex, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) had moved just 14 runs away from amassing the first-innings lead over Ghani Glass on the opening day of their fourth-round President's Trophy Grade-I match.

Opting to bat first, Ghani Glass were bowled out for a paltry 142 in 46.4 overs despite middle-order batter Ali Razzaq's unbeaten half-century.

Ali waged a lone battle for the side and top-scored with an unbeaten 64 off 108 deliveries, featuring eight fours and two sixes. Besides him, only Tayyab Tahir (33) and Saad Nasim (10) could amass double figures.

Naqeebullah led WAPDA's bowling charge with three wickets for 46 runs in his 12 overs, followed by Mohammad Zeeshan, Mujtaba Khan and captain Khalid Usman with two each, while Mohammad Adil made one strike.

In turn, WAPDA had amassed 129/4 in 33 overs by the end of the opening day's play, reducing the deficit to just 13 runs with six wickets in hand.

Middle-order batter Ayaz Tasawar and nightwatchman Mujtaba, unbeaten on 42 and zero, respectively, will resume WAPDA's response on the second day.

Earlier, opening batter Muhammad Akhlaq made a brisk 38 off 45 deliveries with the help of four fours and two sixes.

For Ghani Glass, captain Noman Ali has thus far taken three wickets, while Khurram Shahzad picked one.

On the opening day of the remaining fourth-round President's Trophy Grade-I match at the SBP Sports Complex, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) had secured the lead over the home side, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Opting to bat first, the home side could accumulate 106 before being bowled out in 38.2 overs despite Muhammad Ghazi Ghori's anchoring knock.

The wicketkeeper batter waged a lone battle for the home side and remained their top-scorer with a gutsy 40, while tailenders Kashif Bhatti (16) and Niaz Khan (11) were the others to amass double figures.

Mohammad Hamza led KRL's bowling charge with a four-wicket haul, while Ahmed Bashir and Abdul Wahid took three wickets each.

In response, KRL had amassed 135/3 in 38 overs, courtesy of Waqar Ahmed's unbeaten half-century.

Waqar, unbeaten on 57 off 87 balls, will resume KRL's response on the second day alongside Imran Rafiq, not out on 25 off 61 balls with the help of three fours.

For SBP, Rameez Aziz picked up two wickets for 26 runs in his five overs, while Niaz bagged one.