Pakistan Television edge ahead on day of fightbacks

Pakistan Television fought back on the second day to gain a slight edge over Hyderabad at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad. Left-arm seamer Saad Altaf helped Pakistan Television turn the tables with 7 for 85, his 13th haul of five or more wickets in an innings. Hyderabad had been in an uncomfortable position at 101 for 5 at the start of the day but Lal Kumar's unbeaten 63, with support from the lower order, took them past 200. They managed a lead of 86, but Pakistan Television's batsmen responded strongly in the second innings. Captain Raheel Majeed, who opened, was not out on 83 and was aided in a 134-run unbeaten second-wicket stand with Ammar Mahmood as Pakistan Television finished the day with a lead of 59 with nine wickets in hand.

It was a day of fightbacks at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex as Karachi Whites put in a spirited bowling effort against State Bank of Pakistan before losing two wickets in their second innings to finish slightly behind at stumps. Part-time offspinner Wajihuddin, who just had one first-class wicket before this game, grabbed 4 for 14 to help bowl out SBP for 208 and limit their lead to just 21. SBP, however, will regret not capitalising on starts. Wicketkeeper Gulraiz Sadaf made 39, Mohtashim Ali chipped in with 30 while Naved Yasin top-scored and remained unbeaten 57 as the lower order crumbled at the other end. Left-arm seamer Rizwan Haider hit back in the second innings though, dismissing the Karachi Whites openers to leave the hosts at 33 for 2, a lead of 12.

Abbottabad held the advantage against Peshawar at the Gohati Cricket Stadium in Swabi. The Abbottabad bowlers nipped out the last two Peshawar wickets in the morning, bowling the opposition out for 290 before opener Waqar Orakzai anchored their reply. He helped overcome the loss of two early wickets in a 158-run third-wicket stand with captain Wajid Ali. Orakzai top-scored with an unbeaten 87, Wajid supported him with 83 before medium-pacer rounded off the day with two wickets, adding to two earlier in the innings, and leave Abbottabad at 205 for 5 at stumps, still 85 adrift. Wajid had been the more aggressive of the two during his stand with Orakzai, striking 11 fours and a six.

Honours were even between Lahore Ravi and Quetta at the end of the second day at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. A third five-wicket haul in four games for legspinner Tanzeel Altaf helped bowl out Quetta for 234, which gave the hosts a lead of 68. Altaf was supported by seamer Asif Raza, who bagged three wickets, as Quetta's batsmen failed to convert starts. Nasrullah Khan's 49 was the top score for them, followed by Taimur Khan's 43. However, Lahore Ravi were dealt two early setbacks in their second innings, losing wicketkeeper and opener Zeeshan Ali and Imran Haider to end the day on 14 for 2, 82 ahead.

Khan Research Laboratories got themselves into a strong position at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore against Lahore Shalimar. Former Pakistan player Bazid Khan, on 94 overnight, reached his 14th first-class century and, amid useful contributions from Ali Khan and Jaffaz Nazir down the order, helped propel KRL to 446 for 9. He lost his partner Mohammad Wasim, who had reached a century on the opening day, early on the second morning but built important partnerships with the rest. Medium-pacer Aamer Hayat picked up six wickets before the declaration came. In response, Lahore Shalimar lost their openers to seamer Jaffar Nazir but Asif Khan and Ali Haider built an unbeaten 60-run stand to take their team to 105 for 2 at stumps.