Hasan Raza 149 helps Habib Bank gain lead

Hasan Raza's 149 took Habib Bank Limited to a comfortable position © Getty Images

Hasan Raza scored 149 off 192 balls to help Habib Bank Limited (HBL) gain a 115-run first-innings lead over Faisalabad at the Sargodha Stadium. Raza shared a 139-run stand for the fourth wicket with nightwatchman Mohammad Aslam. Aslam was patience personified; facing 102 balls for his 36. HBL closed the day at 259 for 9 after losing their last four wickets for 23 runs. The stand-out performer for Faisalabad was left-arm spinner Saadat Munir, who claimed a career-best return of 5 for 49.

Pakistan Customs were staring at their fifth consecutive loss in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, trailing Water and Power Development Authority(WAPDA) by 103 runs at the Jinnah Stadium. After bowling out Customs for 73 on the first day, WAPDA notched up 247 to take a 174-run lead. Bilal Khilji top scored for WAPDA with 73 and he was supported by captain Aamer Sajjad (51). By the close of play, Customs were 71 for 3.

Multan were well-placed at 169 for 2 in reply to Sui Southern Gas Company's (SSGC) 299 at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Multan were led by wicketkeeper Gulraiz Sadaf, who scored a career-best 70, and was involved in a 163-run stand for the second wicket with opener Usman Tariq. Tariq was unbeaten on 63 when stumps were drawn.

At the Lahore City Cricket Association ground, Hyderabad were bowled out for 80 against Lahore Ravi with Waqas Ahmed (5 for 29) and Junaid Zia (5 for 46) sharing the honours to give Lahore a 107-run lead. Lahore had scored 179 for 6 at the close of play, extending their lead to 286.

Opener Nasir Jamshed was not out on exactly hundred as National Bank of Pakistan reached 229 for 2 in reply to Karachi Whites' 288 at the NBP Sports Complex. Jamshed was supported by Naumanullah (66), with whom he shared a 114-run second-wicket stand. Shahid Yousuf was the other undefeated batsman after scoring 44 off 99 balls. Earlier, Karachi Whites added 70 runs to their overnight scored of 218 for 5, mainly due to a 39-ball 27 from No.10 batsman Misbah Khan.

Top of the table Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were struggling at 128 for 7 in response to Rawalpindi's 225 at the Khan Research Laboratory ground. The best bowler on view from Rawalpindi was seamer Rizwan Akbar, who took 4 for 24 from 25 overs, bowling 12 maidens along the way. Khurran Manzoor provided the resistance from PIA, scoring 35 off 82 balls with three fours. PIA are still 97 runs adrift of Rawalpindi, who lost their tail-enders after starting the day at 215 for 8.

Quetta captain Nasim Khan scored his second-successive ton of the tournament as his team scored 351 against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at the Bugti Stadium. KRL were 246 for 7 at the close of play, but still had a deficit of 105 runs. They were led by former Pakistan player Ali Naqvi, who was unbeaten on 83 off 141 balls with 10 runs.

Aamer Bashir top-scored with 89 to take Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to 255 against Lahore Shalimar at the Gaddafi Stadium. Adnan Raza was the other batsman to shine, scoring an exact 50 as ZTBL gained a first-innings lead of 83 runs. Asif Raza took 5 for 82 to ensure that Lahore were still in the game. Lahore Shalimar had lost one wicket for the addition of eight runs in their second-innings.

The wickets continued to tumble at the Arbab Niaz Stadium, with 15 wickets falling on the second day after 20 had fallen on the first. Peshawar were bowled out for 140 with Junaid Khan, the 17-year-old Abbottabad left-arm fast-medium bowler, finishing with 7 for 46 to claim a match haul of 13 wickets. But Abbottabad made heavy weather of a victory target of 165, crashing to 78 for 5 by the close of play as the match heads for a close finish.

Karachi Blues were forced to follow on after being bowled out for 75 in response to Islamabad's 302 at the Diamond Club ground. Shehzad Azam, who made his debut earlier in the tournament, took a career-best 5 for 36, while Rauf Akbar took 5 for 35. Karachi performed better in their second innings, reaching 210 for 5, but still needed 17 runs to avoid an innings defeat. Shadab Kabir, the former Pakistan batsman, missed what would have been his 10th first-class hundred when he was dismissed for 95 off only 76 balls. Tariq Haroon, was unbeaten on 50, after 104 runs for the third wicket with Kabir.