Akbar takes 10 in low-scoring PTV win

Seamer Rizwan Akbar finished the match with 10 for 89 - his best figures in first-class cricket - to help Pakistan Television secure a five-wicket win over State Bank of Pakistan in Islamabad.

Akbar took five-wicket hauls in both innings, leaving PTV chasing a target of 132, which they overhauled in 32.4 overs thanks to a fifty from Nawaz Ahmed. Akbar had run through State Bank's middle order in the first innings to bundle them out for 178 - Mohammad Saad's 97 being the only major source of runs. But PTV did not fare much better in their first essay either. Fast bowlers Mohammad Naved and Tabish Khan picked up seven wickets between them to skittle PTV out for 159 inside 50 overs.

With a 19-run first-innings lead, State Bank would have hoped to push for a big total, but only three of their batsmen entered double figures, and once again, Akbar rattled their line-up to dismiss them for 112.

Ahmed Said's unbeaten 76 in Water and Power Development Authority's first innings proved crucial as they went on to beat Habib Bank Limited by 10 wickets in a low-scoring game in Islamabad.

Replying to Habib Bank's 180, WAPDA were 180 for eight before wicketkeeper Said put on 72 for the last two wickets with Azhar Attari and Mohammad Haseeb, who between them hung on for 81 balls to score 11. Said finished unbeaten on 76 off 147 balls, with 12 fours. For Habib Bank, left-arm spinner Mohammad Aslam took five wickets.

WAPDA's 72-run lead proved match-winning, as Habib Bank folded for 131 in their second innings. Seam bowler Attari finished with seven wickets in the match. Chasing 60, WAPDA reached their target in just 10.2 overs.

Offspinner Atif Maqbool took ten wickets as United Bank Limited beat Khan Research Laboratories by six wickets in Rawalpindi.

Having sent KRL in to bat, United Bank bowled them out for 76, with Maqbool picking up 6 for 22. United Bank didn't fare much better themselves, as they were bowled out for 153 with left-arm spinner Saeed Anwar jr grabbing five wickets. That lead of 77, made possible by Wajihuddin's 140-ball 50, was to prove crucial.

KRL batted much better in their second innings, with Usman Salahuddin and Ali Khan making 65 each and putting on 117 for the fifth wicket to propel their score to 234. Maqbool took four wickets, while Kashif Bhatti took five with his left-arm spin.

United Bank reached their target of 158 in 55.3 overs, as six of their top seven got into double-figures with Mohammad Zohaib and Saeed Bin Nasir chipping in with 40 and 42 respectively.