Report

SNGPL go top with big victory

A round-up of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold League matches that ended on December 3, 2014

First innings hundreds from Naeemuddin and Khurram Shehzad set up Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited's nine-wicket win against National Bank of Pakistan in Faisalabad, taking the team to the top of the table. Opting to bat, SNGPL scored 506 for 7 in their first essay before declaring. Their innings was built around Naeemuddin's 156, Shehzad's 107, and fifties from Hussain Talat and Mohammad Rizwan. Naeemuddin's knock meant that he has now hit four centuries and a fifty from his last nine games, and is currently the second highest run-scorer in the competition behind Iftikhar Ahmed. SNGPL enforced their advantage by bowling National Bank out for 191, with Talat and Samiullah Khan snaring three wickets apiece. SNGPL enforced the follow on, and despite a fighting 91 from Mohammad Nawaz, National Bank could only make 340, setting their opponents just 26 for the win. SNGPL chased down that paltry total in 4.4 overs to register their seventh victory of the season.
A nine-wicket match haul from Waqas Maqsood was the cornerstone behind Water and Power Development Authority's 168-run win versus Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Having been inserted, WAPDA were shot out for 193 in the first innings, thanks to a five-wicket haul from Mohammad Khalil (5 for 51). ZTBL, however, failed to capitalise, and could only muster 185 in reply, handing WAPDA a crucial eight-run lead. Maqsood took 5 for 68, while Asif Ali chipped in with 2 for 34. A six-for from the ZTBL fast bowler Sajjad Hussain wrecked WAPDA's top and middle order in the second innings, but the captain Adnan Raees (57) and Ali Azmat (60) both raised half-centuries to lift the total to 291, meaning that ZTBL needed 300 to win. The team, however, lost wickets right from the off in the chase and were dismissed for 131 inside 33 overs. Zulqarnain Haider was the team's top scorer with 45, and one of only four batsmen to reach double figures. Maqsood collected 4 for 54, while Mohammad Irfan picked up 4 for 35.
Karachi Dolphins managed to comfortably hold on for a draw despite following on against Islamabad Leopards, courtesy an unbeaten double-century from Mohammad Waqas. Waqas' career-best 205 carried Dolphins to 383 in their second-innings, after they had folded for 185 in their first - with Waqas picking up a golden duck - in reply to Leopards' 384. Medium-pacer Hamza Nadeem in particular proved to be Dolphins' undoing in their first knock, bowling eight maidens out off 22 overs, and picking up four wickets. Before that, a maiden first-class century from Mohammad Irfan in his debut first-class season had ensured Leopards got close to 400. That set them up in the game and not long after, when Dolphins showed little resistance the first time around, they must have been eyeing a big win, but Waqas had other ideas.
Rawalpindi Rams and Peshawar Panthers played out a high-scoring draw, after a bizarre first innings from Rams; they made 340 on the back of centuries from No. 4 Zahid Mansoor (165*) and No. 8 Yasim Murtaza (120), but no other batsman got past 12 and five were out for ducks. Panthers managed a slim lead courtesy 146 from Ashfaq Ahmed, but Rams then easily played out a draw, putting up 302 for 8 from 98 overs in their second innings - this time around, every single batsman contributed something, with no one bar one of the openers getting out in single digits.