Nazir's 189 overpowers SNGPL

Imran Nazir's 189 charged Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited to a comprehensive 109-run win by posting 367 in 41.2 overs against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in Islamabad. In reply, SNGPL were all out in 36 overs and Azhar Ali's hundred took them only to 258.

After ZTBL's opening pair put on 81, the second-wicket stand between Nazir and Yasir Hameed put on 163 runs even though Hameed's contribution was only 20. The rest of the batsmen could not accompany Nazir for too long as he smashed 189 off only 83 balls, including 26 fours and nine sixes. Azhar and Asad Ali ran through the lower order, taking the last seven wickets for 31 runs. While Azhar took 5 for 66, the least expensive of the lot, Asad Ali finished with 3 for 67.

Only one batsman for SNGPL got past 30, as Azhar scored a 76-ball 106. Once they lost five wickets for 192, left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar wrapped up the lower order with figures of 5 for 56 to complete the win.

Khurram Manzoor's ninth List A century helped Port Qasim Authority chase down 231, and secure an easy eight-wicket win against Pakistan Television in Lahore.

Manzoor smashed 18 fours and two sixes during his 128, and added 144 for the opening wicket with Shahzaib Hasan, who made 66, as Port Qasim overhauled the target in 35.3 overs.

PTV, put in to bat, were earlier buoyed by a century from the opener Imran Ali, that helped them overcome a slow start. Imran's 103 included 11 fours, and he contributed 163 for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Sami. However, no other batsman could manage more than 13, as the team were restricted to 231 for 8 from their 45 overs.

In a shortened game, Pakistan International Airlines prevailed over Habib Bank Limited by two runs according to D/L, thanks to a fifty from Shoaib Malik. PIA, chasing 215, were 182 for 6 in the 40th over when the game was called off.

Shoaib blasted five fours as he made his way to 64, and Fahad Iqbal chipped in with a handy 31, but it was a 14-ball 25 from Adeel Malik, who hit three fours and a six, that ultimately made the difference for PIA by taking them ahead of the par score of 180 when the match came to a premature conclusion.

Habib Bank's innings had earlier been built on a patient 68 from the captain Younis Khan, and his 59-run fourth-wicket partnership with Hasan Raza. Younis departed in the 35th over, but Sulaman Qadir added a late surge by whacking six fours and one six, to take the team to 215 for 5.

A 53 from Zain Abbas helped Khan Research Laboratories to a comprehensive 64-run win over State Bank of Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

Abbas' innings came with three fours and a six, and he added 53 for the opening wicket with Tayyab Riaz, as KRL made a strong start. Their middle order all made important contributions, including a 39 from Usman Salahuddin, as the team eventually rallied to 218 for 7.

Raheel Majeed led the run-chase with a 97-ball 72, but eight of SBP's batsmen got out for single digits, as Yasir Arafat, Nayyer Abbas and Umaid Asif took two wickets each to bundle them out for 154 in just over 36 overs.

United Bank Limited chased a modest 160 posted by Water and Power Development Authority after Adil Raza and Atif Maqbool took four wickets each. WAPDA were all out in 37.4 overs with a late revival from Naved-ul-Hasan, who scored 38 off 35.

Raza and Maqbool stifled the batsmen, sharing the top six wickets between them as WAPDA saw five of their batsmen scoring in single digits. In reply, UBL saw stable contributions from their top-order batsmen who scored 101 runs together. Asif Ali and Khalid Usman dented the chase with two wickets each but UBL eventually finished the chase with five overs to spare.