Rahat Ali gives KRL the advantage

The game between Khan Research Laboratories and United Bank Limited was headed for an early finish, with KRL being handed a chase of 164 after 18 wickets fell at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. KRL, who began the day on 45 for 2, crumbled against Tahir Mughal and Shabbir Ahmed to be dismissed for 94. Mughal did most of the damage with 6 for 36 and was supported by Shabbir who took 3 for 51. After KRL conceded a lead of 27, Rahat Ali and Yasir Arafat came hard at United Bank in the second innings, taking eight wickets to finish them off for 136. Rahat ended with 5 for 45 while Arafat struck thrice. KRL safely negotiated an over before stumps to reach 4 without loss.

Bilawal Bhatti smashed his maiden first-class century at No. 9, lifting Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited from 88 for 7 to 231, and past Quetta's 199, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. SNGPL had looked set to concede a big lead to Quetta after the top seven batsmen managed a highest score of 19 between them. But 20-year old Bhatti came in at No. 9 and turned the game around completely, hammering 12 fours and four sixes in racing to 100 off only 74 deliveries. He was supported by Yasir Shah who made a patient 40 in an eighth-wicket stand of 137. Shahzaib Ahmed finished with 4 for 56 for Quetta.

Fahad-ul-Haq gave Lahore Shalimar the edge against Multan on another day for the bowlers at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Fahad's unbeaten 92 carried Lahore past Multan's 110 and gave them a useful 35-run lead in the low-scoring game. The next-highest score for Lahore was no. 9 Ali Manzoor's 11. Mohammad Zahid's five-for had reduced Lahore to 113 for 9 but last man Hasan Dar hung around for 48 deliveries to allow Fahad to push the score towards 150. Fahad scored at a fair clip, hitting 11 fours in making 92 off 119 deliveries. Multan had a disastrous start to their second innings, with Asif Raza carrying on from his seven-wicket haul in the first innings to reduce them to 46 for 4, a lead of only 11.

Hyderabad were struggling to avoid an innings defeat against Lahore Ravi at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, losing 11 wickets in the day. After Usman Salahuddin's unbeaten 132 had extended Lahore's innings from 205 for 7 to 333, Emmad Ali led with four wickets to finish Hyderabad for 139. Hyderabad hadn't begun badly, reaching 32 without loss before Asif Ashfaq sent back the openers. Emmad then ran through the middle order in a four-wicket burst and Hyderabad were tottering at 75 for 7 at one stage. Imran Chandio's 37 proved to be inadequate as Hyderabad folded up. They also lost Zahid Khan off the second ball of the follow-on innings, and ended the day needing 176 to make Lahore bat again.

Akbar Badshah and Mohammad Rizwan hit centuries to put Peshawar on top against Karachi Whites at the National Stadium. Peshawar had been 148 for 5 on day one at one stage, but Badshah (113) and Rizwan (138) added 210 for the sixth wicket to snatch back the advantage from Karachi. Peshawar were eventually dismissed for 440 with Akbar-ur-Rehman taking four wickets. Peshawar's new-ball duo of Riaz Afridi and Waqar Ahmed further strengthened their side's grip on the game, striking early to leave Karachi in trouble at 46 for 2.