Kaneria leads Habib Bank to big win

Habib Bank Limited's bowlers ran through Multan for the second time in the match to bowl their side to an innings-and-167-run win at the Multan Cricket Stadium on the third day. Multan began the day needing 289 runs to make Habib Bank bat again, after they declared on their overnight score of 429 for 7. The fast-bowling trio of Shahid Nazir, Sarmad Anwar and Kamran Hussain scythed through the Multan top and middle order to leave them reeling. Only opener Zaka-ur-Rasheed resisted with 41, but he fell to Danish Kaneria, who then mopped up the lower order as Multan collapsed to be dismissed for 122. Kaneria finished with 4 for 41, giving him ten wickets in the match, and also taking him past 900 first-class victims. He has taken 18 wickets from two games in the tournament so far.

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited face an uphill task against Karachi Blues at the United Bank Limited Sports Complex in Karachi. They need another 349 runs for victory or to bat through the last day to ensure a draw. Led by Rameez Raja's 81, Karachi made 289 in their second innings after taking a first-innings lead of 77. Left-arm spinner Imran Khalid was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5 for 57. SNGPL lost opener Naeemuddin to the last ball of the day with 17 runs on the board.

Sialkot ended day three of their match against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot on 31 for 1 chasing 354. ZTBL declared their second innings on 254 for 8, with Yasir Hameed cruelly run out five runs short of a century. Hameed's innings came off just 106 balls, and included 15 fours and a six. He was supported by Inam-ul-Haq, who remained unbeaten on 52, but no one else went past 40. Sialkot lost Adnan Zaheer, trapped lbw by Pakistan medium Sohail Tanvir, without scoring before Tariq Mahmood and Majid Jehangir shepherded the side through to the close of play.

Islamabad closed the third day of their game against Pakistan International Airlines at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad on 228 for 7, giving them a lead of 217 runs. Anoop Santosh's unbeaten 52 helped PIA take a slender 11-run lead. Nasrullah Khan was the most successful bowler, taking 6 for 71 from 24.4 overs. In their second innings, Islamabad had lost their openers with only eight runs on the board wen Ameer Khan and Zeeshan Mushtaq came together to add 102 for the third wicket. Zeeshan had raced to 97 from 101 balls when he was caught by Shoaib Khan off the bowling of Ali Imran, who ended the day with four wickets.

Wicketkeeper Ahmed Said's unbeaten century enabled Water and Power Development Authority to take a 107-run first innings lead over Faisalabad, and two late wickets ensured their domination was complete on the third day at the Sports Stadium in Sargodha. WAPDA began the day needing 48 runs to take the lead with four wickets remaining. Said first ensured they did so in a 77-run partnership with fast bowler Umaid Asif. After Umaid's dismissal for 39, the lower order stayed long enough with Said to stretch the lead beyond 100. Said remained unbeaten on 113. Hasan Mahmood, the 19-year old left-arm spinner, took his maiden five-wicket haul, bowling 50.2 overs to take 6 for 123. Faisalabad began well but Umaid struck late to leave them in trouble at 90 for 3.

National Bank of Pakistan tightened their grip on the third day against Rawalpindi, who lost four wickets for 95 chasing an improbable 432 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Earlier, Kamran Akmal, resuming on 58, carried on after Umar Amin fell for 132, smashing 11 fours and a six in his 103 off 127 deliveries. He was supported well by the lower order before National Bank were dismissed for 374, an overall lead of 431. Sadaf Hussain, the Rawalpindi left-arm medium-pacer, finished with 5 for 82. Mohammad Talha, the fast bowler who debuted for Pakistan in the ill-fated Lahore Test against Sri Lanka last year, then had Rawalpindi fighting to save the match with a three-wicket burst.