Cheema's eleven wickets sink State Bank

Aizaz Cheema wrecked State Bank of Pakistan twice, as his 11-wicket haul for the match ushered Pakistan International Airlines to a victory by 156 runs in their final match in the President's Trophy. However, the result did little to improve their position at ninth place.

State Bank, having won the toss, seemed well placed at the end of the first day: They had knocked over PIA for a modest 225 and raced to 60 for 1 in 10 overs. The PIA lower-order had rallied as best they could to revive a scoreline that read 37 for 4 and the captain Sarfraz Ahmed had punched a run-a-ball 43 to spearhead a useful half-century partnership for the sixth wicket to help push the score past 200.

The rapid start to State Bank's innings seemed to have given them the advantage. However, Cheema and his new-ball partner Najaf Shah ensured State Bank's start was the only positive of the innings. The score slumped from 76 for 1 to 86 for 6 and very little could be salvaged after that as both seamers picked up five-fors.

PIA gained a lead of 106 but capitalising on that proved difficult. Tabish Khan pocketed his 20th five-for and Sarfraz was the lone man standing again, this time completing his half-century. He was one of four people to reach double figures and State Bank were set a target of 257. Cheema rewrote the script once again and had State Bank reeling at 44 for 5. His eventual 6 for 39 led PIA to an emphatic victory.