SNGPL fight back after Samiullah takes six

Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) fought back bravely on the second day of their Patrons Trophy match against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at the Sheikhupura Stadium on Saturday.

After being routed for a poor 40 on the opening day, they had their opponents on the mat at 97 for five at stumps. Yesterday, WAPDA were all out for 167, attaining a first innings lead of 127 runs, but SNGPL hit back in their next outing making 125 for the loss of only two wickets, just two runs behind WAPDA with eight second innings wickets in hand.

SNGPL's bowling hero was Samiullah Niazi, the left-arm seamer, as he finished with impressive figures of 6 for 42. WAPDA's seventh-wicket partnership produced 56 runs. Opener Ahmed Said continued to defend and his eventual 47 took him just over five and a half hours to score while he faced 230 balls and hit two fours. Bilal Khilji, following his incredible haul of five wickets in the first innings stayed with Said making 30 off 83 balls.

WAPDA, with Pakistan stars like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan in their midst, have a fight on their hands. SNGPL were off to a sound start with an opening stand of 59 the second time round. Mohammad Hafeez scored 29 and his partner Yasir Arafat made a resolute 40 off 116 balls with three fours in almost two and a half hours.

After having taken a first innings lead of 74, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) captured six second innings wickets for 166, on the second day of their Patron's Trophy match against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at the KRL Stadium on Saturday. KRL are now ahead but only by 92 runs, with just four wickets standing.

KRL really had themselves to blame for having being bowled out for a pathetic 103 in their first innings. They had PIA in some trouble too, but Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik came to their rescue, scoring 87 before he was run out. He stayed at the crease for just over three hours, facing 122 deliveries, hitting 11 fours. PIA eventually reached 177 before being all out. One reason for PIA's low score was the excellent bowling by KRL's new-ball pair - Yasir Arafat, who took five for 66 runs in 20 overs and Abdul Rauf, who bagged 4 for 63.

KRL didn't really bat badly in their second innings, but they kept on losing wickets to a PIA attack in which almost all bowlers had a share. Left-handed opener Saeed Anwar Jnr top-scored with 47, and his opening stand with Mohammad Wasim (27) was worth 46. But some quick wickets later on put KRL in trouble again. Arafat, with an unbeaten 24, took them to the close through some small but useful partnerships.

Defending champions National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) had debutants Attock Group on the ropes, who faced the prospect of a follow-on, on the second day of their Patrons Trophy match at the NBP Sports Complex Stadium on Saturday.

NBP, resuming at their overnight 260 for five, took their score to an eventual 382 all out. By the day's close, the Attock Group had slumped to 131 for seven, still needing another 52 to make their opponents bat again. The wickets were evenly spread among the NBP bowlers, but the one person really under scrutiny was fast bowler Mohammad Sami, who needed to perform well enough to return to the Pakistan side taking only one wicket in 15 overs and conceding 51 runs.

Earlier, Fawad Alam made 63 off 133 balls with four fours while both Kamran Akmal (33) and Sami (34*) batted usefully in a total that neared 400. While National Bank piled on the runs, Attock Group's Asim Butt impressed with a haul of 6 for 92 runs in 34 overs. His new-ball partner, the left-arm Sohail Tanvir got 3 for115 in 36.

Medium-pacer Kashif Daud's splendid bowling performance may eventually go to waste as, in spite of his nine wickets in the match so far, as Habib Bank attained a rather daunting 284-run lead over Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), on the second day of their four-day, first-round Patrons Trophy match, at the United Bank Limited (UBL) Sports Complex Ground in Karachi.

Although Habib Bank had been restricted to a low first-innings score of 169 on Friday's opening day, they reduced ZTBL to 58 for 5 by the day's close. Yesterday, ZTBL were bowled out for a poor 105 handing Habib Bank a 64-run first-innings lead. Habib Bank then batted on to score 220 in their second innings and although they have lost seven wickets - four of them to Kashif - their overall lead appears to be leading them to a rather comfortable victory.

After Pakistan paceman Umar Gul had taken four ZTBL wickets on the first day, his partner Shahid Nazir gathered three cheap wickets yesterday, finishing with 3 for 27 in 13 overs.

Following his 5 for 46 in the first innings, Kashif bagged four second innings wickets for 42 runs. Habib Bank were in some trouble at 129 for 5 after a 65-run opening stand, but Humayun Farhat, the first innings top-scorer, again came to their rescue. At stumps, Humayun was unbeaten on 65, that came in his characteristic style off just 66 balls with six fours and a six.