Rawalpindi see off Habib Bank Limited

Rawalpindi completed the formalities against Habib Bank Limited on the fourth day at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, winning by six wickets and moving to fifth in the points table. On 265 for 8 overnight, HBL couldn't put up much resistance, being eventually bowled out for 287, a lead of just 61. Rizwan Akbar, the seamer, finished with a match haul of seven wickets, so did left-arm medium-pacer Nasir Malik. In the chase, opener Naved Malik knocked off 32 runs in quick time and though there was a mini-collapse, four wickets falling for 19, Rawalpindi didn't have much to get to begin with.

The contest between National Bank of Pakistan and Faisalabad at the Sports Stadium in Sargodha ended in a draw, but Faisalabad will be disappointed they didn't pick three points for a first-innings lead. On 432 for 5 at the end of the third day, with centurion Asif Hussain at the crease, they would have expected to overhaul NBP's score of 467 with ease but they faltered. Seamer Uzair-ul-Haq grabbed two wickets, Mohammad Talha chipped in with one on the fourth day, Rauf Nazir was run out, No.11 Imran Ahmed was absent hurt and Hussain stranded at the other end, watching his side lose the initiative helplessly. Four wickets fell for 12 runs, Faisalabad were bowled out for 448 and NBP gained a lead of 17 and with it three points. NBP batted again, and their openers Nasir Jamshed and Rashid Riaz struck half-centuries. NBP, with the three points, are at No.4 in the points table; Faisalabad are second from the bottom.

Shoaib Malik starred for Pakistan International Airlines against Sialkot at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot with centuries in each innings, his 156 in the second coming under more difficult circumstances. With a lead of 114, PIA had been reduced to 47 for 4 in the second innings but Malik counterattacked, striking 21 boundaries in his 185-ball knock, and was supported by wicketkeeper Anop Santosh in a stand of 124. Sialkot's hopes of a fightback were dashed, and they had to settle for the tenth place in the points table. PIA gained three points from the match and moved to No.8.