WAPDA struggle against Rawalpindi

Water and Power Development Authority, who currently head the Division 1 points table, are in big trouble against Rawalpindi at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, despite Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan's haul of seven wickets, as they slumped to 28 for 5 after bowling the hosts out for 249. Naved ripped through Rawalpindi's top and middle order, finishing with 7 for 97, with only Adnan Mufti offering any serious resistance, as he counter-attacked to good effect. Mufti slammed 14 fours in his 76, which came from 71 balls. The WAPDA batsmen, however, let their bowlers down, as none of them have managed to reach double figures so far. Sadaf Hussein ended the day with 3 for 13, while his new-ball partner, Rizwan Akbar took 2 for 15.

Iftikhar Anjum and Mohammad Khalil ran through Karachi Blues to give Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited complete control of their game at the National Stadium in Karachi. Both fast bowlers took five-fors, as Karachi were blown away for 64. Rameez Raja was the only batsman to reach double figures, his 26 more than three times higher than the next best score of 8. Zohaib Khan (52*) and Shahid Yousuf (60*) then added an unbeaten 121 for the third wicket to take ZTBL to 192 for 2, and a lead of 128.

An allround bowling display from Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited was the key as Faisalabad were dismissed for 220 on the first day at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Left-arm spinner Imran Khan was the best of the bowlers, taking 4 for 49, with fast bowler Asad Ali backing him up with 3 for 74, while Imran Ali and Adli Raza also picked up a wicket each. The hosts failed to build any significant partnerships, with Ijaz Ahmed jnr the only batsman to show any application. His 67 contained nine fours and took 131 balls, with only two other batsmen managing to face even half as many deliveries. SNGP were 8 for no loss at stumps.

Pakistan allrounder Azhar Mahmood took five wickets as Habib Bank bowled Islamabad out for 184 at the Diamond Club Ground. Mahmood made the early breakthroughs to reduce the hosts to 38 for 3, then came back to pick up two more to leave them reeling at 84 for 8. However, Imad Wasim responded with a fighting 76 not out, adding 32 with Rauf Akbar for the ninth wicket and 68 with Nasrullah Khan for the tenth. Wasim's innings included 12 fours and two sixes as he took the attack to the bowlers. Left-arm fast bowler Kamran Hussein backed Mahmood up with 3 for 39. Habib Bank stuttered in their reply, losing three wickets with just 64 on the board.

Pakistan batsman Fawad Alam's 10th first class hundred was the foundation of National Bank of Pakistan's 274 for 5 against Sialkot at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. Alam batted for almost five hours and faced 179 balls to make exactly 100 before he was caught behind off Waqas Ahmad. He shared a third-wicket stand of 114 with Rashad Riaz, who was run out for 75. Sialkot took two late wickets, that of Alam and Rehman Qadir, who made 49, to slow NBP's progress.

Multan managed 220 in their first innings against Pakistan International Airlines, with none of their batsmen able to capitalise on getting a start and going on to make a big score at the Gymkhana Ground in Okhara. Taimur Ahmed was the top scorer with 29, while four other batsmen got at least 20. Kamran Sajid and Najaf Shah did most of the damage for PIA, dismissing the top four batsmen and claiming seven wickets in total between them. In reply, Multan found themselves 25 for 2, with Agha Sabir (1) and Shoib Khan Snr (1) both back in the pavilion.