Imran Butt's 189 sets up SNGPL win

Imran Butt's 189 was the cornerstone of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited's five-wicket win over Lahore Lions in Lahore. Butt's century and fifties from Mohammad Rizwan and Adnan Akmal helped SNGPL take a crucual 138-run first-innings lead despite Bilawal's 6 for 86.

Lions were dismissed for 241 despite Umar Siddiq's century in the second innings and set SNGPL a target of 104 for their second win of the tournament. Ali Waqas' unbeaten 43 and Akmal's unbeaten 29 helped the side brush off a poor start to seal the win.

The SNGPL bowlers did well too. Imran Khalid's 4 for 51 was key in restricting Lions to 232 in the first innings, while Asad Ali chipped in with 4 for 77 in the second innings.

Centuries from Iftikhar Ahmed and Adnan Raees and a second-innings haul of 7 for 43 from fast bowler Mohammad Ali set up Water and Power Development Authority's mammoth 159-run win over Multan Tigers, their third successive victory in the tournament.

After being skittled out for 185 in the first innings, WAPDA ended up conceding a lead of 106. However, Iftikhar and Raees led the resurgence, smashing 132 and 122 respectively to help WAPDA declare their second innings at a formidable 354 for 6. Chasing 249, Tigers folded for only 89 as Mohammad Ali, along with Waqas Maqsood, ran through the line-up. Mohammad Ali, who had taken three wickets in the first innings, ended with his second ten-wicket haul in first-class games, while Maqsood added two wickets to his first-innings tally of 5 for 86.

United Bank eased to a ten-wicket win over Peshawar Panthers after demolishing the hosts for 98 in the first innings. Hasan Mahmood led with four wickets after United Bank chose to bowl and Panthers lasted 35.3 overs, with the top score of 35 coming from No. 9 Azizullah.

United Bank responded with 340 as Hamza Paracha made 111 and Ali Asad contributed 94, the pair adding 202 for the second wicket. Afaq Ahmed picked up 6 for 66, but could not prevent United Bank from taking a 242-run lead.

Prince Abbas and Hasan Mahmood then combined to take seven wickets as Panthers managed 251 in their second innings. Jamaluddin scored 116 and Akbar Badhshah made 57 but their efforts were just enough to prevent an innings defeat. United Bank knocked off the target of 10 to register their second win.

Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited fought to a draw against Karachi Dolphins at the National Stadium. Set an improbable target of 563, ZTBL hung on to reach 337 for 6. Yasir Hameed led with 114 at the top of the order, while Zohaib Khan (50) and Shoaib Malik (85) also put in valuable contributions.

ZTBL had crumbled to 118 in the first innings after Dolphins posted 222. Dolphins were helped by fifties from Fazal Subhan and Mohammad Hasan, even as Shoaib Malik claimed 5 for 70. Adeel Malik responded with 5 for 27 to give Dolphins a 104-run lead.

Subhan piled on the runs in the second innings, making his highest first-class score of 207 to lead Dolphins to 458 for 8 declared. There were also fifties from Saad Ali and Mohammad Hasan, again. The Dolphins bowlers persevered for 106 overs, but ZTBL salvaged the draw.

The match between Rawalpindi Rams and Port Qasim Authority was drawn after there was no play on day one. PQA declared their first innings on 240 for 9, Asim Kamal remaining unbeaten on 101 and Rizwan Akbar claiming 5 for 87.

Usman Saeed, Naved Malik and Yasim Murtaza made fifties as Rams replied with 308. Mohammad Sami and Sohail Khan picked up seven wickets between them.

Khalid Latif made a breezy, unbeaten 123 and Shahzaib Hasan and Mohammad Salman collected half-centuries as PQA motored to 299 for 4 in their second innings before the game was called off.

Islamabad Leopards came within 26 runs of victory against National Bank of Pakistan before running out of time. Set a target of 148, Leopards reached 122 for 6 in 33.1 overs when the game was drawn.

National Bank's 167 in the first innings was the highest total in the game after no play was possible on day one. Umar Waheed's 49 was the only decent contribution in that score.

Hammad Azam ripped through Leopards with 8 for 26, his best first-class figures. Leopards were dismissed for 148 despite No. 7 Zohaib Ahmed's 81.

Shehzad Azam (5 for 62) and Zohaib Ahmed (3 for 42) then bowled out National Bank for 128 but Leopards could not push on for the win.