Naved's seven gives SBP title

State Bank of Pakistan finally won the Quaid-e-Azam Division Two final after what turned out to be a seven-day match against Khan Research Laboratories at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. There were only four days of play, though; that too two days were curtailed, and SBP ended up with a 144-run first-innings lead, and with it the victory.

After there was no play on Wednesday due to the murder of the Punjab governor, KRL resumed their innings at 74 for 2 in response to SBP's 303. They did not last long on the seventh-day pitch, losing their last eight wickets for 85 runs in 30.3 overs on Thursday. Fast bowler Mohammad Naved did all the damage for SBP, finishing with 7 for 61. He got an early wicket, dismissing overnight batsman, KRL captain Mohammad Wasim, before he could add to his score of 8.

Opener Ali Naqvi battled at one end to reach a half-century, but Naved kept picking away at the wickets at the other. Only three of KRL's last eight batsman got to double figures.

SBP had scored most of their runs on the third day after little play was possible on the first two. The fourth day was also washed out. The rules of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy state the final must go on till the first innings of both sides are complete, which is why the game was extended into a seventh day.