- Scorecards are available here
Lahore, 5 October 2024: Eshaal Associates’ Usman Khan scored a double century in a tied second-round match against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) of the President’s Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Saturday.
Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) defeated Higher Education Commission (HEC) by 30 runs on DLS to clinch their second win in the tournament, while Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) defeated Ghani Glass by two wickets.
Group A
At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, after being put into bat, HEC scored 312 for four in 50 overs on the back of an unbeaten century by Obaid Shahid (126 not out, 122b, 13x4s, 2x6s). Obaid and Mohammad Ali Taj (74, 94b, 9x4s, 1x6) added 88 runs for the second wicket and then Obaid and Mohammad Junaid (56 not out, 33b, 5x4s, 3x6s) knitted an unbroken 129-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
For WAPDA, Ali Raza bagged two wickets for 46 while Mohammad Zeeshan and Khalid Usman picked up a wicket each.
In return, WAPDA were 246 for four in 38 overs, when bad light stopped play and the game didn’t resume. Opening batter Muhammad Akhlaq (116, 101b, 11x4s, 4x6s) top-scored for the winning side and stitched a 142-run partnership for the first wicket with Mohammad Arif (41, 51b, 3x4s, 1x6).
The second game of the Group A between Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi couldn’t take place due to unavoidable circumstances. The match will take place again at some stage of the tournament, with the date to be announced in due course.
Group B
At the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, SNGPL and Eshaal Associates played out a tied game. After being asked to bat first, Eshaal Associates scored a mammoth 351 all out in 48.4 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan, coming to bat at number four scored his maiden List-A double century. He scored 201 off 132 balls before retiring out. The right-handed batter hit 16 fours and 13 towering sixes. He added 122 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Haider Ali (41, 55b, 2x6s). Afaq Ahmed coming to bat at number seven scored a quick-fire 68 off 36 balls, smashing four fours and six maximums.
SNGPL’s Mohammad Ali was the pick of the bowlers, clinching five wickets for 45 in 9.4 overs. Qasim Akram took two wickets.
In reply, SNGPL lost half of their side for 135 runs on the board. Mohammad Abbas Afridi, batting at number eight, rescued his side with a 67-ball 112. Abbas’ innings included 11 fours and seven sixes. He was well-supported by Arafat Minhas (59, 54b, 8x4s, 1x6), while Qasim (45, 49b, 4x4s, 1x6), Abdul Samad (40, 42b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Kamran Ghulam (39, 45b, 2x4s, 2x6s) also chipped in with the bat.
SNGPL needed 41 runs to win with their last pair Abbas and Shahnawaz Dahani at the crease, with the duo managing to score 40 runs before Abbas got leg-before-wicket to Mohammad Sudais in the 48th over.
For Eshaal Associates, Asad Raza was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets, while Zaman Khan bagged two wickets.
In the other Group B match, OGDCL defeated Ghani Glass by two wickets at the Saeed Sports City Bedian in Lahore. After being put into bat first, Ghani Glass scored 252 for nine in 50 overs with skipper Shadab Khan top-scoring with a 73-ball 81, laced with five fours and four sixes. Sameen Gul scored an unbeaten 32 off 30 balls, which included two fours and a six.
OGDCL’s Mohammad Sarwar Afridi grabbed two wickets for 36 in 10 overs.
In turn, half-centuries by Raja Hamza Waheed (73, 93b, 8x4s, 3x6s) and captain Adil Amin (57, 58b, 7x4s, 1x6) guided OGDCL to a two-wicket win over Ghani Glass. For the losing side, Sameen grabbed three wickets, while Ali Husnain and Saeed Ali bagged two wickets apiece.
The third-round matches of the President’s Cup will take place on 7 October.
Scores in brief:
Group A
WAPDA beat HEC by 30 runs on DLS
HEC 312-4, 50 overs (Obaid Shahid 126 not out, Mohammad Ali Taj 74, Mohammad Junaid 56 not out; Ali Raza 2-46)
WAPDA 246-4, 38 overs (Muhammad Akhlaq 116, Mohammad Arif 41)
Group B
Match tied between SNGPL and Eshaal Associates at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
Eshaal Associates 351 all out, 48.4 overs (Usman Khan 201 retired out, Afaq Ahmed 68, Haider Ali 41; Mohammad Ali 5-45, Qasim Akram 2-32)
SNGPL 351 all out, 47.5 overs (Mohammad Abbas Afridi 112, Arafat Minhas 59, Qasim Akram 45, Abdul Samad 40, Kamran Ghulam 39; Asad Raza 3-70)
OGDCL beat Ghani Glass by two wickets at the Saeed Sports City Bedian, Lahore
Ghani Glass 252-9, 50 overs (Shadab Khan 81, Sameen Gul 32 not out; Mohmmad Sarwar Afridi 2-36)
OGDCL 254-8, 49.2 overs (Raja Hamza Waheed 73, Adil Amin 57; Sameen Gul 3-40, Ali Husnain 2-31, Saeed Ali 2-55)
