Alam gives HBL control of final

A composed half-century from Aftab Alam has put Habib Bank Limited firmly in control of their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One final against Pakistan International Airlines at the National Stadium in Karachi. Alam began aggressively after HBL were set 235 for victory, flicking Shan Masood's first delivery to the deep midwicket fence, then cutting and driving Aizaz Cheema for consecutive boundaries a few overs later. The loss of first-innings centurion Imran Farhat, caught and bowled by Kamran Sajid, forced HBL to shut shop, and only 17 runs came from the next 20.2 overs.

The dismissal of Khaqan Arsal, who made nine painstaking runs from 61 deliveries, seemed to stir Alam from his stupor, and he unfurled two glorious drives either side of the wicket in the same Anwar Ali over. HBL sent out Fahad Masood as a nightwatchman, who had batted with assurance in the first innings to make a half-century down the order, and he ensured there would be no more hiccups, adding 43 with Alam as they whittled their target down to 134 by the close of play.

A fighting knock from Faisal Iqbal, who made 84, helped extend PIA's overnight lead from 147 to 235. Iqbal found a willing ally in Najaf Shah, and the pair added 76 for the ninth wicket to take PIA past 300 and the lead past 200. Fahad Masood eventually dislodged Iqbal, getting him to edge a fuller delivery to the keeper, and then wrapped the PIA innings by bowling Cheema for 14.