Lahore Ravi and Habib Bank take first-innings lead

A solid unbroken fifth-wicket partnership between Arsalan Mir and Haafiz Saad Nasim took Lahore Ravi beyond Karachi Whites' first-innings total of 218 on the second day Asghar Ali Shah Stadium . Lahore Ravi ended the day on 226 for 4 after they had been reduced to 124 for 4 at one stage. They suffered an early setback when Karachi Whites captain Mohammad Sami dismissed opener Rizwan Aamer for a duck. Rizwan Ahmed scored 54 off 113 balls and added 53 for the third wicket with Ashraf Ali but it was Mir and Nasim who took their team ahead. Mir remained unbeaten on 67 while the 17-year old Nasim was on 41.

Pakistan Customs were 148 runs behind Sui Southern Gas Company's (SSGC) first-innings score of 328 at the National Bank of Pakistan Stadium . Pakistan Customs ended the day on 180 for 5 despite opener Hasnain Abbas's 53 off 85 balls. Pakistan Customs captain Zahoor Elahi hit a brisk 32 off 45 deliveries with five fours before Rehan Rafiq and wicketkeeper Mohammad Hasan stemmed the rot with an unbroken 47-run stand for the sixth wicket Earlier, after SSGC had resumed on 239 for7, wicketkeeper Ahmed Zeeshan, who scored 67 runs off 151 balls, and fast bowler Rajesh Ramesh added 62 runs for the eighth wicket. Raees Amjad finished with figures of 4 for 68 runs while legspinner Yasir Shah picked up 3 for 89 in 32.1 overs.

Paksitan Customs were defeated by Habib Bank by 262 runs in their first-round match on Wednesday. SSGC were playing their first match in the tournament, after having qualified for the first-class circuit by winning last season's Patron's Trophy Grade-II Championship.

Habib Bank Limited (HBL) took a 102-run lead in the first innings against Hyderabad with six wickets still in hand at the Niaz stadium. Beginning the day on 193 for 9, Hyderabad lost their last wicket at 197. Left-arm spinner Aslam Qureshi took 4 for 33 to complement Danish Kaneria's 4 for 64. With four batsmen scoring half-centuries, Habib Bank reached 299 for 4 with Aftab Khan unbeaten on 75 off 91 balls with nine fours. Opener Taufeeq Umar hit 71 in a 92-run stand for the second wicket with Rafatullah Mohmand (51). Captain Hasan Raza then chipped in with 69 off 102 balls with six fours and two sixes.

At the Sheikhupura stadium , Multan piled on the agony for Sialkot, who were routed for 100 on the first day. Multan replied with 458 for 8. Brothers Hammad and Usman Tariq put on 211 for the first wicket. Usman (91) missed his hundred but Hammad scored 116 off 211 balls with 13 fours and two sixes. Imranullah Aslam was ruthless at No 7, as he hammered his maiden first-class century. His 115 came off only 99 balls with 16 fours and two sixes.

Spurred by 17-year old Nasir Jamshed's maiden first-class century National Bank of Pakistan scored 267 for 7 and took a 22-run lead in the first inning against Faisalabad at the Iqbal stadium. Jamshed batted for over four hours, facing 187 balls with 18 fours and a six.

Karachi Blues were in control against Quetta after reducing them to 128 for 5 facing a total of 444 at the Bugti Stadium . Quetta were trailing by 316 runs with five wickets in hand and needed another 167 to avoid the follow-on. Sixteen-year old batsman Taimur Ali remained unbeaten on 64 off 121 balls in two hours 23 minutes with 11 fours. Taimur made two tours with the Pakistan Under-19s this year, to Australia and England, and was considered one of the brightest prospects to have emerged from the Balochistan province. He and wicketkeeper Sanaullah Khan lifted Quetta from 89 for 5 with a 39-run stand. Earlier, after resuming on 308 for 4, Karachi Blues took their first-innings score to 444. Sharjeel Ashraf (33), Mansoor Baig (30) and Sajid Hanif (31) all contributed useful scores in the 30s. Offspinner Naseer Khan captured 5 for 101 for Quetta while fast bowler Arun Lal bagged 4 for 84 in 26.5 overs, getting all his wickets on the second day.

Playing for the first time in this tournament, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) enforced the follow-on against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at the Arbab Niaz stadium. After scoring 303 in the first innings, SNGPL dismissed ZTBL for 85. Trailing by 218 runs in the follow-on, ZTBL ended the day on 100 for 2. Left-arm fast bowler Samiullah Niazi captured 4 for 28 in 12 overs and was ably assisted by Imran Ali and Adil Raza, who took 3 for 22 and 3 for 34 respectively. ZTBL, who need 118 runs to avoid an innings defeat, were lifted by a career-best knock of 72 not out by 18-year old night-watchman Junaid Nadir.

Khan Resrach Laboratories (KRL) scored 232 for 4 and took a 21-run lead against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with six wickets still intact at the KRL stadium. Ali Naqvi scored his tenth first-class century, an unbeaten 108 off 231 balls with 11 fours and a six. Bazid Khan (97) missed his hundred by three runs but helped add 193 runs for the fourth wicket with Naqvi.

At the Diamond Cricket Club ground , hosts Islamabad nosed ahead of Lahore Shalimar, taking a six-run lead in the first innings. After Fayyaz Ahmed had made 58, Rauf Akbar hit 98 at No 8 off 130 balls with 15 fours. By the close of play, Lahore were 115 for 6 in the second innings.

The match between Abbottabad and Rawalpindi, which was shifted to the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, started a day late on Saturday as the original venue -- the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi -- was not available due to repairs. Abbottabad, after opting to bat first, were 225 for 6 at the close of play. Opener Wajid Ali top scored with 75 off 176 balls with 11 fours.