President's Trophy Grade-I: SNGPL, SBP, KRL conclude fifth round with victories

KARACHI: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) won their respective fifth-round matches of the President's Trophy Grade-I here on Saturday.

At the UBL Sports Complex, Mohammad Hamza's seven-wicket haul in the second innings led KRL to a resounding nine-wicket victory over defending champions Pakistan Television (PTV) on the final day.

Earlier in the day, the holders resumed their second innings from 27/3, leading by a slender seven runs, and could add 67 more to their overnight score to consequently finish at 94 all out in 27.1 overs.

Emerging all-rounder Arafat Minhas remained the top-scorer with a gutsy 32 off 40 deliveries, while middle-order batter Mohammad Mohsin (14) and captain Shamyl Hussain (17) were the others to amass double figures.

Hamza was the standout bowler for KRL, taking seven wickets for just 39 runs in his 14 overs, while Arshad Iqbal bagged three.

Set to chase a modest 75-run target, KRL comfortably knocked the winning runs in 17.1 overs, losing just one wicket.

Emerging wicketkeeper batter Saad Baig top-scored with an unbeaten 40 off 52 deliveries with the help of three fours and two sixes. His opening partner Shahzaib Khan and top-order batter Waqar Ahmed chipped in with 27 and 10 not out, respectively.

Mohsin picked up the solitary KRL wicket in the second innings, dismissing Shahzaib.

At the National Bank Stadium here, a collective bowling effort in the second innings helped SNGPL down Ghani Glass by 10 wickets despite opener Mohammad Arham's gutsy century on the final day.

Ghani Glass, after being forced to follow-on, resumed their second innings from 125/1, trailing by a further 126 runs, and put on a decent show with the bat to avoid the innings defeat as they neutralised the deficit by accumulating 289 all out.

Arham spearheaded Ghani Glass's batting charge in the second innings with a gutsy knock and top-scored with a 160-ball 141, comprising 16 fours and three sixes.

He was supported by fellow top-order batter Hammad Butt, who made 77 off 156 deliveries. The duo also shared a 196-run partnership for the second wicket.

Besides them, none of the Ghani Glass's batters could put up a fight against the SNGPL bowlers, and thus the side could set a modest 39-run target.

For SNGPL, skipper Sajid Khan and Mohammad Ali bagged three wickets each, while Shahnawaz Dahani and Shehzad Gul claimed with two each.

In turn, SNGPL comfortably chased down the 39-run target in 8.5 overs without losing a wicket as openers Abid Ali and Azan Awais remained unbeaten with 15 and 19, respectively.

At the SBP Sports Complex, Test pacer Mohammad Abbas's five-wicket haul in the second innings propelled home SBP to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Sahir Associates on the final day of their fifth-round President's Trophy Grade-I fixture.

Earlier in the day, Sahir Associates resumed their second innings from 44/3, trailing by a further 16 runs, but could add 78 more to their overnight score and were thus bowled out for a meagre 122 in 41.5 overs.

No.8 batter Razaullah remained the top-scorer with a gutsy 29, while middle-order batters Mohammad Faiq (25) and Mohammad Mohsin Khan (20) made notable contributions.

Abbas was the pick of the bowlers for the home side, returning economical bowling figures of 5/38 in his 21 overs, while Niaz Khan and Kashif Bhatti made two scalps each.

Set to chase a modest 63-run target, SBP comfortably amassed the total in 13.5 overs, losing just one wicket – captain Hasan Raza, who made a 14-ball 12 before falling victim to Bilawal.

Emerging top-order batter Mohammad Huraira top-scored with an unbeaten 25 off 28 deliveries, while opener Abdullah Fazal made 24 not out.

The remaining fifth-round President's Trophy Grade-I match between Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) ended in a draw at the KCCA Stadium here.

WAPDA were set a target of 200, but they could accumulate 88/3 in 24 overs before the stumps were drawn.

For the unversed, the sixth round of the President's Trophy Grade-I will run from January 27 to 30 across four venues here.