Jamal seven-for gives Abbottabad control

Abbottabad held the advantage against Lahore Shalimar at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium after a career-best 7 for 70 by fast bowler Ahmed Jamal gave his team a 62-run lead. The Abbottabad batsmen then finished at 90 for 4 at stumps to extend the lead with enough resources still available to build it towards something substantial. Lahore had started the day on the back foot, at 9 for 2, and things quickly worsened with Jamal tearing through the line-up to reduce them to 42 for 7. But there was a resistance; Saad Nasim and Aamer Hayat struck half-centuries under pressure and put together a 122-run stand to rescue their team, which was eventually bowled out for 184. In the second innings, it was Fawad Khan, unbeaten on 43, who guided the innings amid the loss of four wickets and pushed the lead to 156 with six wickets still in hand.

Khan Research Laboratories took control of their contest against Hyderabad, who are playing at the Niaz Stadium, their home ground. KRL began the day on 261 for 7 and folded for 291, with left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti finishing with a career-best 6 for 73. But his batsmen failed to put up a competitive response, as none managed to score a half-century while seamers Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Irfan, both of whom have played for Pakistan, shared five wickets between them. Lal Kumar top-scored with 46 but was short of support from the rest and Hyderabad were bowled out for 167, conceding a lead of 124. In their second innings, KRL have begun well, with the openers adding 43 and still unbeaten.

Karachi Whites dominated Quetta for the second successive day at the National Stadium in Karachi. Their batsmen, led by wicketkeeper Mohammad Hasan who reached his maiden first-class century, piled up 520 for 6. Karachi lost the other centurion, Wajihuddin, who had reached three-figures on the first day, and overnight batsman Asim Kamal in quick succession. But Hasan, with Mohammad Waqas, who hit a half-century, added 132 runs for the sixth wicket to ensure their team, barring a miracle, would not lose the game.

Lahore Ravi surged ahead of Pakistan Television on the second day at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Solid top-order contributions and an unbeaten 87 by Asif Raza at No.7, who led his team's recovery from 172 for 5, took Lahore to 329 for 7 at stumps, a lead of 174. The start to the day was encouraging for Lahore with opener Mohammad Saad and Fahad-ul-Haq adding 139 for the second wicket, promising to take their team towards a strong lead. But the seam duo of Saad Altaf and Zahoor Khan bagged the next four wickets for just 32. The scare, though, was cast aside by Raza and captain Sheraz Butt, who struck one of 50-plus scores in the innings, to add 97 for the sixth wicket in a potentially decisive stand.

State Bank of Pakistan and Peshawar finished things even at the end of the second day at the Sports Complex in Mardan. Starting the day on 283 for 4, SBP would have been disappointed at being bowled out for 376. Adnan Raees, on 94 at the end of the opening day, reached his century, his ninth in first-class cricket, but was eventually dismissed for 122. But there was not much support for the innings from the lower order, as the last five wickets fell for 28. Medium-pacer Riaz Afridi, who has played one Test for Pakistan, bagged his 14th haul of five or four wickets. Peshawar, in their reply, lost two early wickets but were steadied by Naved Khan, who, unbeaten on 63, steered his team for 141 for 4 at stumps. He was supported by Ashfaq Ahmed in an unfinished 34-run stand.