Islamabad and WAPDA register easy wins

Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) beat Multan by an innings and 34 runs at the Multan Cricket Stadium , and with 18 points from two appearances, they now occupy the second spot behind Habib Bank. Overnight at 71 for 6, Multan could manage only 208. Seamers Sarfraz Ahmed (3 for 29) and Azharullah with 3 for 80, were the most effective bowlers for WAPDA.

Faisalabad gained an eight-wicket win over Pakistan Customs in Sargodha. Pakistan Customs had done well on Saturday afternoon, making 178 for 1 in their second innings. However, they collapsed losing their last nine wickets for the addition of only 73 runs. As they fell for 279, Faisalabad required just 42 to win. Opener Hasnain Abbas missed his maiden first-class ton by two runs. His 98 came off 182 balls with 12 fours and three sixes.

After a 77-run opening stand with Rehan Rafiq (37), Hasnain added 129 for the second-wicket partnership with Asif Iqbal (55). Faisalabad's 19-year-old seamer Mohammad Talha, who played for Pakistan in the Afro-Asia Under-19 Cup in India two years ago, had career-best figures of 5 for 57 in 22 overs.

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) defeated Lahore Ravi by seven wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Having earlier surrendered a 135 runs first-innings lead, Lahore Ravi made 289 in their second innings. They were lifted from a precarious 133 for 7 through a 101-run eighth-wicket stand between Saad Nasim and captain Junaid Zia.

The 17-year-old Saad, who had scored 95 on his first-class debut against Karachi Whites recently, made a splendid 94 yesterday, off 125 balls with 16 fours. Junaid smashed 67 off 75 balls with 11 fours and a six. Chasing 155, NBP's second-wicket stand then produced 115 between Rashid Riaz (63*) and Naumanullah (58) as they won by seven wickets.

Islamabad stayed ahead of all other teams in the Group B table, as they defeated Rawalpindi by six wickets, on the final day at the Diamond Cricket Club Ground in Islamabad. Rawalpindi fell for 203 in their second innings after being 190 for 8 overnight. Islamabad, who now have the full 27 points from three matches, reached the target of 144 thanks to opener Raheel Majeed's unbeaten 67. Left-arm seamer Saad Altaf, with match figures of 10 for 118, has now taken 29 wickets for Islamabad at 14.86 apiece in three matches.

At the Sheikhupura Stadium , Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) beat Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) comfortably by eight wickets. For ZTBL, captain Abdul Razzaq top-scored with 51 off 65 balls his side's total of 173. PIA coasted home, polishing off the target of 42.

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) added another feather to their cap as they defeated Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) by 53 runs at the KRL Stadium. Needing 240 to win, KRL were dismissed for 186. Seamer Asad Ali (5-51) rounded off a memorable match, finishing with figures of 10 for 108.