- Scorecards are available here
Lahore, 9 October 2024: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Eshaal Associates beat Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Pakistan Television (PTV) and Ghani Glass, respectively, in the fourth round of the President’s Cup 2024.
KRL’s Maaz Sadaqat scored his maiden List-A century in a losing cause while SNGPL’s Qasim Akram showcased all-round heroics (47 and 3-9). Kashif Bhatti stood out for SBP in a close game as he backed up his three wickets by a brilliant 49 not out off 24 balls to help his team win a crucial game.
Group A
SBP eked out a hard fought two-wicket victory against KRL in the rain-reduced 42-overs-a-side last Group A fixture, chasing down the 276-run target in 41.5 overs. After KRL were invited to bat first, 19-year old Maaz Sadaqat struck his maiden List-A century (114, 96b, 12x4s, 6x6s). He was involved in a 99-run fifth-wicket partnership with Muhammad Amir Barki (82, 71b, 5x4s, 5x6s) as the duo helped their team reach 275-9 in the allotted overs.
Kashif Bhatti picked up three wickets while Sirajuddin and Saqib Khan dismissed two batters each. In turn, SBP opening batter Mohammad Faizan struck a fluent half-century (63, 68b, 10x4s, 1x6) while Umar Amin (24, 28b, 4x4s), Fawad Alam (25, 37b, 2x4s), Muhammad Irfan Khan (32, 28b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (27, 23b, 4x4s) also got starts but couldn’t convert them.
That the SBP were able to chase down the target in the last over was due to an unbeaten 49 off 24 balls from Kashif Bhatti. Kashif shared a vital 45-run eighth-wicket partnership with Niaz Khan, who chipped in with a 13-ball 20 not out. Kashif hit four fours and three sixes while Niaz struck two fours and a solitary six in his outing. Arshadullah and Mohammad Irfan picked up two wickets.
After the completion of the first round matches in the Group A, WAPDA and SBP, having topped the points table with three and two victories, respectively, have qualified for the semi-finals.
Group B
In Group B, SNGPL managed their first win of the tournament against PTV as they romped to a 93-run victory over PTV at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Lahore. SNGPL scored 249-9 in the allotted 45 overs as Haseebullah struck a vital half-century (54, 66b, 7x4s) while Qasim Akram (47, 54b, 6x4s, 1x6), Kamran Ghulam (36, 43b, 4x4s, 1x6) and Abdul Samad (32, 42b, 2x4s, 1x6) also contributed with the bat.
For PTV, Mohammad Hasnain returned figures of 3-37 in nine overs while Jahandad Khan and Faisal Akram picked up two wickets each.
In pursuit of the 250-run target, PTV were restricted to 156-9 in 35.5 overs as Imam-ul-Haq didn’t walk out to bat due to injury. Apart from Sahibzada Farhan (58, 99b, 5x4s), no other PTV batter troubled the SNGPL bowlers.
Qasim Akram picked up three wickets in three overs giving away only nine runs while Arafat Minhas (2-26) and Mohammad Abbas Afridi (2-31) dismissed two batters each.
In the second Group B fixture at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, Eshaal Associates beat Ghani Glass by five wickets as they chased the 179-run target in 33.1 overs courtesy of a run-a-ball half-century from Sajjad Ibraheem (61 not out, 61b, 4x4s, 4x6s).
Earlier, Ghani Glass endured a middle-order collapse, losing six wickets for 24 runs before a 21-run last-wicket partnership got them to 178 all out in 38.4 overs. Only Mohsin Riaz (51, 72b, 6x4s) and Junaid Ali (47, 60b, 8x4s) made notable scores. Tayyab Tahir and Shadab Khan scored 24 and 22, respectively.
For Eshaal Associates, Usman Tariq bagged three wickets while Zaman Khan and Mohammad Waheed picked up two each.
The last round of the President’s Cup will commence on 11 October with SNGPL taking on Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited (OGDCL) and PTV taking on Eshaal Associates in Group B.
Scores in brief:
Group A
SBP beat KRL by two wickets at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium
KRL 275-9, 42 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 114, Muhammad Amir Barki 82; Kashif Bhatti 3-39, Sirajuddin 2-47, Saqib Khan 2-53)
SBP 276-8, 41.5 overs (Mohammad Faizan 63, Kashif Bhatti 49 not out, Muhammad Irfan Khan 32; Arshadullah 2-32, Mohammad Irfan 2-70)
Group B
SNGPL beat PTV by 93 runs at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore
SNGPL 249-9, 45 overs (Haseebullah 54, Qasim Akram 47, Kamran Ghulam 36, Abdul Samad 32; Mohammad Hasnain 3-37, Jahandad Khan 2-29, Faisal Akram 2-42)
PTV 156-9, 35.5 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 58, Faheem Ashraf 25; Qasim Akram 3-9, Arafat Minhas 2-26, Mohammad Abbas Afridi 2-31)
Eshaal Associates beat Ghani Glass by five wickets at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
Ghani Glass 178 all out, 38.4 overs (Mohsin Riaz 50, Junaid Ali 47; Usman Tariq 3-48, Zaman Khan 2-30, Mohammad Waheed 2-38)
Eshaal Associates 182-5, 33.1 overs (Sajjad Ibraheem 61 not out, Sajjad Ali Hashmi 36, Mohammad Waheed 36; Mohammad Rameez Jnr 3-44)
