- Scorecards are available here
Lahore, 7 October 2024: Naseerullah Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Umar Amin and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai struck centuries while Mohammad Imran Jnr and Faisal Akram picked up five-wicket hauls in the third round of the President’s Cup.
In the Group A fixtures, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) beat Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) achieved victory over State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The matches in Group B saw Pakistan Television (PTV) defeating Ghani Glass whereas Eshaal Associates beat Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited (OGDCL).
Group A
At the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad, KRL romped to an eight-wicket win over HEC, chasing the 223-run target in just 36.3 overs with the help of Naseerullah Khan’s 108. Earlier, KRL’s Mohammad Imran Jnr dented the HEC batting with figures of 6-45 as they were bundled out for 222 in 48.3 overs. Uzair Mumtaz (50, 93b, 2x4s) and Waseem Akram Jnr (47, 30b, 4x4s, 2x6s) pushed their team towards a fighting total.
In turn, Naseerullah, who hit 14 fours and one six in his 111-ball outing, stitched a 124-run opening partnership with Maaz Sadaqat (64, 71b, 8x4s) as KRL cruised to the target with 81 balls to spare.
In the second match of Group A, WAPDA beat SBP by 11 runs on DLS method. After WAPDA were invited to bat first, Iftikhar Ahmed struck his 11th List-A century scoring a career-best 154 not out off 81 balls, hitting 17 fours and seven sixes to propel WAPDA to 379-4 in 50 overs.
Iftikhar shared an unbroken 125-run fifth-wicket stand with Ayaz Tasawar (51 not out, 24b, 3x4s, 4x6s). Hashim Ibraheem (75, 90b, 8x4s) and Mohammad Arif (61, 87b, 8x4s) also chipped in with vital contributions.
In reply, SBP captain Umar Amin, batting at No. 3, struck an unbeaten 182 off 141 balls hitting 21 fours and three sixes. SBP were 344-8, requiring 36 runs off the last three overs before play was stopped due to bad light leaving them 11 runs behind the par score. Khushdil Shah picked up three wickets while Iftikhar dismissed two batters.
WAPDA lead Group A with three wins out of three. The second-round fixture between SBP and KRL, which was postponed on 5 October, will now take place on 9 October at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.
Group B
PTV’s decision to bowl first at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad paid dividends as they bundled out Ghani Glass for 166 in 38.2 overs. Apart from half-centuries by Hussain Talat (72, 89b, 7x4s) and Tayyab Tahir (67, 102b, 6x4s), no other Ghani Glass batter reached double figures.
PTV’s Faisal Akram bagged his career-best List-A figures, returning figures of 5-24 in eight overs. Mohammad Hasnain and Jahandad Khan bagged two wickets each while Faheem Ashraf dismissed one batter.
In turn, PTV chased the target in 25.5 overs with nine wickets in the bag as Imam-ul-Haq (69 not out, 60b, 3x4s, 4x6s) and Sahibzada Farhan (69, 67b, 5x4s, 3x6s) struck half-centuries as they stitched an unbeaten 131-run partnership for the second wicket.
In the second match of Group B, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai’s brilliant century (103, 113b, 12x4s, 1x6) and Haider Ali’s unbeaten 52-ball 81 including six fours and four sixes helped Eshaal Associates chase the 296-run target against OGDCL with 18 balls to spare and five wickets in hand. Afaq Ahmed also smashed an 18-ball 44 not out.
Earlier, Abbas Ali and Mohammad Hammad Khan struck 86 and 67 respectively to help OGDCL reach 295-8. Abbas hit seven fours and four sixes while Hammad struck five fours and a six. Mohammad Sudais, Nisar Ahmad, Shahzaib Bhatti and Asad Raza picked up two wickets each for Eshaal Associates.
PTV and Eshaal Associates occupy the top two positions in Group B, respectively.
The fourth-round fixtures of the President’s Cup will take place on 9 October.
Scores in brief:
Group A
KRL beat HEC by eight wickets at Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad
HEC 222 all out, 48.3 overs (Uzair Mumtaz 50, Waseem Akram Jnr 47, Mohammad Junaid 32; Mohammad Imran Jnr 6-45, Shahid Aziz 2-45)
KRL 223-2, 36.3 overs (Naseerullah Khan 108, Maaz Sadaqat 64)
WAPDA beat SBP by 11 runs (DLS method) at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium
WAPDA 379-4, 50 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 154 not out, Hashim Ibraheem 75, Mohammad Arif 61, Ayaz Tasawar 51 not out; Saqib Khan 2-66, Mohammad Abbas 2-79)
SBP 344-8, 47 overs (Umar Amin 182 not out, Muhammad Irfan Khan 56, Imran Butt 39; Khushdil Shah 3-68, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-46)
Group B
PTV beat Ghani Glass by nine wickets at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
Ghani Glass 166 all out, 38.2 overs (Hussain Talat 72, Tayyab Tahir 67; Faisal Akram 5-24, Jahandad Khan 2-27, Mohammad Hasnain 2-35)
PTV 169-1, 25.5 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 69 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 69 not out)
Eshaal Associates beat OGDCL by five wickets at Saeed Sports City Bedian, Lahore
OGDCL 295-8, 50 overs (Abbas Ali 86, Mohammad Hammad Khan 67, Raja Hamza Waheed 31; Mohammad Sudais 2-26, Nisar Ahmad 2-45)
Eshaal Associates 297-5, 47 overs (Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 103, Haider Ali 81 not out, Afaq Ahmed 44 not out)
