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- Scorecards available here
Karachi, 23 December 2023: Round two of President’s Trophy Grade-I unfolded with four batters registering tons on day two while the tussle for grip on the games continued across the three venues in Karachi. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) batter Abid Ali hit his 28th first-class hundred and also brought up 10,000 first-class runs. His teammate Omair Bin Yousuf also hit a hundred. WAPDA captain Iftikhar Ahmed continued his red-hot batting form with his second century in the tournament. His fellow teammate Mohammad Saad was the fourth centurion of the day.
HEC vs WAPDA at National Bank Stadium, Karachi
Higher Education Commission (HEC) lead by 47 runs in the second innings as they closed the day two with 111-2 in 25 overs after half-centuries by Awais Zafar (52 not out, 82b, 6x4s, 2x6s) and Mohammad Mohsin Khan (54 not out, 65b, 9x4s). Naqeebullah Masood and Irfanullah Shah struck with the new ball to reduce HEC to 3-2. Awais and Mohsin joined forces to get their team out of trouble with an unbeaten 108-run partnership and will be on the crease at the start of day three.
Earlier, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) batters had dominated HEC’s bowling as they raced to 391-4 in 80 overs with skipper Iftikhar Ahmed (123, 124b, 12x4s, 3x6s) hitting his second ton of the tournament. Veteran batter Mohammad Saad (102 not out, 134b, 5x4s) also struck his 13th first-class ton. Umar Akmal (87, 95b, 12x4s, 2x6s) was run out after registering his 45th half-century in first-class career.
HEC bowlers toiled all day long as only Aqib Liaqat managed to pouch two scalps while Mohammad Azab picked up one wicket.
KRL vs Ghani Glass at State Bank Stadium, Karachi
Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) trail by 43 after they completed their first innings towards the close of play on day two. In reply to Ghani Glass’ total of 363-7, KRL managed to score 320-8 in their allotted 80 overs. Earlier in the day Ghani Glass bowlers had reduced KRL to 159-5 as only Ali Zaryab (65, 112b, 10x4s) managed a half-century among the top five batters while captain Rohail Nazir departed for a four-ball duck. Maaz Sadaqat (84 not out, 137b, 6x4s, 2x6s) and Sarmad Bhatti (54, 68b, 7x4s) saved the KRL innings from getting derailed courtesy of a 100-run sixth wicket partnership.
Niaz Khan was the pick of the Ghani Glass bowlers as he dismissed four batters. Saeed Malik backed up his brilliant batting performance with two wickets with the ball as sent the set batter Sarmad and Shayan Sheikh back to the pavilion. Skipper Hussain Talat and Bilawal Iqbal picked up one wicket each.
PTV vs SNGPL at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) had a grand outing with the bat as they smashed 424 runs in the allotted 80 overs. Sahibzada Farhan (17, 31b, 4x4s) was dismissed earlier in the day but then Omair Bin Yousuf (120, 152b, 11x4s) and Abid Ali (121, 180b, 14x4s, 1x6) put on a massive partnership of 203 runs. Abid Ali brought up his 28th ton and crossed the milestone of 10,000 first-class runs.
Haseebullah (76, 50b, 7x4s, 1x6) scored a quickfire half-century to keep the run-flow intact. Skipper Asad Shafiq departed for 40 off 33, comprising two boundaries and one six. Adil Naz picked up three wickets while Jahandad Khan and Ahmed Safi Abdullah struck once.
PTV opening duo of Hasan Nawaz (40 not out, 44b, 5x4s) and Nasir Nawaz (25 not out, 52b, 4x4s) did well to put on 66 on the board in the remaining 16 overs of the day. PTV trail by 41 runs in their second innings with 10 wickets in the bag.
Scores in brief:
HEC vs WAPDA at National Bank Stadium
HEC 327-7, 80 overs (Awais Zafar 178 not out, Mohammad Mohsin Khan 43, Jahanzaib Sultan 20; Iftikhar Ahmed 3-88, Irfanullah Shah 2-67, Naqeeb Masood 1-61, Asif Afridi 1-83) and 111-2, 25 overs (Mohammad Mohsin Khan 54 not out, Awais Zafar 52 not out; Naqeebullah Maqsood 1-25, Irfanullah Shah 1-30)
WAPDA 391-4, 80 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 123, Mohammad Saad 102 not out, Umar Akmal 87; Aqib Liaqat 2-124, Mohammad Azab 1-56)
KRL vs Ghani Glass at State Bank Stadium
Ghani Glass 363-7, 80 overs (Saeed Malik 105 not out, Shahbaz Javed 74, Saad Naseem 58; Kashif Ali 3-61, Arshadullah 2-117, Sirajuddin 1-35, Shayan Sheikh 1-93)
KRL 320-8, 80 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 84 not out, Ali Zaryab 65, Sarmad Bhatti 54; Niaz Khan 4-107, Saeed Malik 2-41, Hussain Talat 1-41, Bilawal Iqbal 1-63)
PTV vs SNGPL at UBL Sports Complex
PTV 317 all out, 79.2 overs (Uzair Mumtaz 108, Hasan Mohsin 59, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 46; Arif Yaqoob 4-97, Mohammad Awais Anwar 3-47, Bilawal Bhatti 1-31, Mohammad Ali 1-50, Mubasir Khan 1-73) and 66-0, 16 overs (Hasan Nawaz 40 not out, Nasir Nawaz 25 not out)
SNGPL 424-7, 80 overs (Abid Ali 121, Omair Bin Yousuf 120, Haseebullah 76; Adil Naz 3-83, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 1-86, Jahandad Khan 1-90)
