Sialkot crush Faisalabad by nine wickets

Sialkot completed a crushing nine-wicket win against Faisalabad in Sargodha on a tumultuous second day during which three innings were played. Left-arm spinner Hasan Mahmood had taken best figures of 7 for 51 to restrict Sialkot to 187, a lead of 99. Fast bowler Waqas Ahmed replied in kind with 6 for 66 as Faisalabad limped to 132. Asif Hussain (49) and Mahmood (45) fought back, but Waqas dismissed them both, and apart from the duo, no other Faisalabad batsman passed 15. Sialkot knocked off the 34 runs needed without fuss, losing only Faisal Rasheed's wicket.

Rawalpindi were eyeing victory on the second evening in Bahawalpur, as Multan were tottering at 93 for 6 with another 100 runs needed. Seamers Sadaf Hussain and Rashid Latif did the damage, taking three wickets apiece. Abdur Rauf and Tahir Maqsood, Multan's new-ball pair, had earlier repeated their first-innings performance, taking seven wickets between them as Rawalpindi were dismissed for 151. Had the lower middle order not resisted, Rawalpindi would not have gone beyond 125, as they were struggling at 88 for 6 at one stage. Multan will take heart from that resistance, and hope they are able to put up a similar show tomorrow.

Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited took charge against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, reducing them to 127 for 6 after posting 362. ZTBL's seam trio of Sohail Tanvir, Iftikhar Anjum and Mohammad Khalil took two wickets apiece as SNGPL tottered. Only Raza Ali Dar resisted with a patient unbeaten half-century. Haris Sohail (86) had earlier boosted ZTBL past 350 even as the lower order was skittled by medium-pacer Imran Ali, who took 4 for 55.

A solid top-order batting performance gave Pakistan International Airlines a sizeable lead against Habib Bank in Faisalabad. Khurram Manzoor, playing his first game of the tournament, top scored with 94, and was supported by Agha Sabir (36) and captain Kamran Sajid (30). However, seamer Sarmad Anwar struck back for Habib Bank, picking up 5 for 89 to restrict PIA to 333 for 9. Danish Kaneria could manage only 1 for 99 though as PIA still got away to a 122-run lead. Pakistan batsman Faisal Iqbal remained unbeaten on 68. Habib Bank did not help their cause, bowling 32 no-balls.

Half-centuries from Nauman Masood and Imad Wasim took Islamabad past Karachi Blues at the Diamond Club Ground. Islamabad had to work hard to eke out the 49-run lead, and had lost seven wickets for 204 in response to Karachi's 237 at one stage. Imad and captain Rauf Akbar (47) took them past Karachi before they were bowled out for 286. All Karachi bowlers except Tabish Khan were among the wickets, and his bowling partner Babar Rehman led the way with 3 for 55. Karachi had wiped off 17 runs from the deficit in three overs by stumps.

Naumanullah's century and his partnership with Kamran Akmal (56) led National Bank of Pakistan's strong reply against Water and Power Development Authority in Sialkot. After losing three wickets for 75, NBP were steadied by the duo, both of whom played busy knocks. Qaiser Abbas ensured NBP did not lose momentum, smashing an unbeaten 46 that took his side seven runs short of taking the lead at 264 for 5. Kashif Raza took 3 for 54 but lacked support from the other bowlers, including Naved-ul-Hasan who went wicketless in twenty overs. WAPDA had earlier been bowled out for 271, Rafatullah Mohmand going caught behind for 99. Kamran Akmal finished with seven catches behind the stumps, and Mohammad Talha ended with 5 for 51.