SNGPL go top with easy victory

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited surged to the top of the table with a ten-wicket victory over Lahore Shalimar at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. They needed less than 50 overs on the third day to complete the win, chasing a 50-run target in 12 overs after bowling Lahore Shalimar out for 157. SNGPL had taken a 108-run first-innings lead on the second day and reduced Lahore Shalimar to 40 for 3 by stumps. Lahore Shalimar could add only another 117 runs on the third day as Asad Ali completed a four-wicket haul and legspinner Yasir Shah picked up three wickets. That left with SNGPL a small target that their openers raced to.

A hundred from Mohammad Hasan helped Karachi Whites go to 381 for 9, giving them a 101-run lead against Lahore Ravi at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Karachi began the day precariously placed at 138 for 4 but Hasan and Akbar-ur-Rehman put together a 150-run stand for the sixth wicket to secure the first-innings lead. Akbar-ur-Rehman was dismissed for 93 but Hasan completed his century. Lahore Ravi took a few quick wickets at the end of the day to ensure the lead did not get out of hand but will need a remarkable turnaround to avoid losing on first-innings lead.

United Bank Limited completed an easy ten-wicket win against Multan at the Multan Cricket Stadium, driven by a fine show from new-ball bowler Mohammad Irshad. Irshad followed up his four-wicket first-innings haul with a five-for - his eighth in first-class cricket - to help keep Multan to 183. Multan were following on, and would have folded for much less had it not been for a fluent 95 from Mohammad Mudassar. That left United Bank with a mere two runs to get in their second innings, which opener Mohammad Sami knocked off with a boundary. The win puts United Bank fifth on the points table, while Multan are yet to score a point this season.

Quetta put on a decidedly better batting performance following on, but Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) still managed to win by an innings and 86 runs at the Khan Research Laboratory Ground in Rawalpindi. Quetta, who had been shot out for 90 in their first innings, resumed on 18 for no loss in their second outing on the third day. They could have scored even more than their second-innings total of 229, if more of their batsmen who got starts had pushed on to substantial scores. As it was, only Asim Luni and captain Taimur Ali got half-centuries: Luni top scored with 72, while Taimur finished unbeaten 50. Opening bowler Rahat Ali did most of the damage, claiming four wickets and a run-out.

A half-century from wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan helped Peshawar take the first-innings lead against Hyderabad at the Niaz Stadium in Sind. It was a close fight with Peshawar being reduced to 238 for 7 in response to Hyderabad's 286. Rizwan scored 52 to take his team to 308 and the points for the first-innings lead are more or less in the bag for Peshawar. Hyderabad reached 75 for 2 in their second innings by stumps. Peshawar had started the day well placed on 170 for 3 but lost their overnight half-centurions early and slipped to 238 for 7. Rizwan's rearguard though made sure they took the lead.