- Match photographs available here
- Scorecards available here
Karachi, 3 January 2024: The fourth round of President’s Trophy Grade-I 2023-24 kicked off at three different venues in Karachi. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) locked horns with Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) while State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) took on Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The match between Ghani Glass and Higher Education Commission (HEC) saw exciting action as well. Ghani Glass’ Tayyab Tahir headlined with his seventh first-class hundred while SBP’s Nisar Ahmad wreaked havoc with the ball on his way to a third first-class five-wicket haul.
SNGPL vs KRL at National Bank Stadium, Karachi
KRL posted 281-9 in their allotted 80 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Opening batters, Ali Zaryab (26, 53b, 4x4s) and Abdul Faseeh (26, 49b, 4x4s) put on a partnership of 44 runs before Mubasir Khan struck to remove the latter. Imran Rafiq (67, 130b, 6x4s, 1x6) and Sarmad Bhatti (53, 86b, 5x4s, 1x6) chipped in with valuable half-centuries to steer the KRL innings out trouble.
Skipper Rohail Nazir only managed a paltry total of three while Maaz Sadaqat, batting at number seven, scored an unbeaten 42 off 65 balls comprising two boundaries to take his team’s score past the 250-run mark.
Leg-spinner Arif Yaqoob continued his good bowling form as he bagged four wickets for 83 in his 19 overs. Mohammad Ali picked up two wickets while Mubasir struck once.
SNGPL finished the day with 22 runs on the board for no loss. Abid Ali (13 not out, 26b, 3x4s) and Azhar Ali (9 not out, 22b, 1x4) will be on the crease on day two.
SBP vs WAPDA at State Bank Stadium, Karachi
SBP trail by 63 runs with six wickets in the bag as they closed the day with 77-4 on the board. Zain Abbas (37, 74b, 3x4s) fell just a few moments before stumps as Naqeebullah Masood struck. Umar Amin (9, 27b, 1x4), Usman Salahuddin (0, 5b) and Mohammad Ilyas (2, 12b) were dismissed by Akif Javed.
SBP’s decision to bowl first reaped rewards as they bundled up WAPDA for 140 in 43.1 overs. Mohammad Ilyas drew the first blood as Mohammad Saleem departed for two. Umar Abid Kayani (32, 58b, 3x4s, 1x6), Ahmed Shehzad (21, 25b, 3x4s) and skipper Umar Akmal (24, 50b, 3x4s) failed to convert their starts as SBP kept on striking. They lost their last five wickets for 46 runs.
Nisar Ahmad wreaked havoc with his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. He only needed nine overs to achieve the feat. Ilyas and Afaq Afridi chipped in with two wickets each while Mohammad Abbas dismissed one batter.
Rameez Aziz (25 not out, 75b, 3x4s) and Muhammad Irfan Khan, yet to get off the mark, will be on the crease for SBP on day two.
Ghani Glass vs HEC at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi
HEC trail by 81 runs as they lost six wickets for 140 runs, in reply to Ghani Glass’ 221, at the close of play on day one. Earlier in the day, Ghani Glass elected to bat first after winning the coin toss. They were soon reduced to 20-3 and then 80-5 before Tayyab Tahir (103, 170b, 14x4s, 1x6) took control of the game. He struck his seventh first-class ton to help Ghani Glass post a competitive total. Wicketkeeper-batter Shahbaz Javed (71, 99b, 10x4s, 1x6) chipped in with a vital half-century.
Wahaj Riaz picked up four wickets on his first-class debut while Aqib Liaqat bagged three wickets. Meanwhile, Asadullah Hamza set the tone with two early wickets.
HEC got off to a steady start with a 29-run opening partnership but soon started losing wickets at regular intervals. Shoaib Akhtar picked up the scalps of Mohammad Huraira (16, 12b, 4x4s), Saad Khan (8, 7b, 2x4s) and Awais Zafar (5, 13b).
Mohammad Rameez Jnr dismissed Wahaj Riaz (14, 24b, 1x4) and Adeel Meo (18, 23b, 1x4, 1x6) to reduce HEC to 85-6. Ghazi Ghouri (28 not out, 37b, 4x4s) and Haris Khan (31 not out, 33b, 4x4s, 1x6) joined forces to stitch an unbroken 55-run partnership for the seventh wicket as stumps were drawn.
Scores in brief:
SNGPL vs KRL at National Bank Stadium
KRL 281-9, 80 overs (Imran Rafiq 67, Sarmad Bhatti 53, Maaz Sadaqat 42 not out; Arif Yaqoob 4-83, Mohammad Ali 2-40, Mubasir Khan 1-63)
SNGPL 22-0, 8 overs (Abid Ali 13 not out, Azhar Ali 9 not out)
SBP vs WAPDA at State Bank Stadium
WAPDA 140 all out, 43.1 overs (Umar Abid Kayani 32, Umar Akmal 24; Nisar Ahmad 5-30, Afaq Afridi 2-22, Mohammad Ilyas 2-44, Mohammad Abbas 1-30)
SBP 77-4, 30 overs (Zain Abbas 37, Rameez Aziz 25 not out; Akif Javed 3-25, Naqeebullah Masood 1-25)
Ghani Glass vs HEC at UBL Sports Complex
Ghani Glass 221 all out, 67.5 overs (Tayyab Tahir 103, Shahbaz Javed 71; Wahaj Riaz 4-39, Aqib Liaqat 3-75, Asadullah Hamza 2-18, Haris Khan 1-63)
HEC 140-6, 28 overs (Haris Khan 31 not out, Ghazi Ghouri 28 not out; Shoaib Akhtar 3-31, Mohammad Rameez Jnr 2-35, Shiraz Khan 1-25)
