WAPDA crush Islamabad in two days

Water and Power Development Authority completed a remarkable ten-wicket win over Islamabad in two days at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad. After 15 wickets had fallen on day one, another 15 fell on day two, leaving WAPDA with just one run to win in their second innings. Led by No. 7 Ali Azmat, who made a brisk 61, hitting 10 fours, WAPDA took a first-innings lead of 122. Raff Akbar and Nasrullah Khan shared nine wickets between them, with Akbar taking 5 for 68 and Nasrullah 4 for 75. The pair's efforts would be in vain, however, as Islamabad collapsed for 122, with five WAPDA bowlers sharing the wickets. Adil Nasir then knocked off the solitary run to take WAPDA to the top of the points table.

Habib Bank Limited took a 109-run lead over Kararchi Blues with three wickets remaining at the end of the second day at the Southend Club Cricket Stadium in Karachi, thanks to half-centuries from Khaquan Arsal, Kamran Hussain and Pakistan allrounder Azhar Mahmood. HBL were in trouble at 64 for 4 when Mahmood joined Arsal. The added 92 before Mahmood fell for 54. Arsal then added a further 55 with Hussain, before nicking one to the keeper off Babar Rehman having made 80 from 172 balls. Hussain was not out on 78 when play ended.

A century opening partnership between Farrukh Shehzad and Asif Hussein helped Faisalabad post a strong reply to Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited first innings total of 345 at the Sports Stadium in Sargodha. Shehzad ended the day on 76 not out, having added a further 50 with Hasan Mahmood, to take Faisalabad to 157 for 1. Zoraib Khan picked up the wicket of Hussain for 56. ZTBL were boosted by a 145-run stand between Atif Ashraf and Junaid Zia, who made 85 and 88 respectively. Left-arm spinner Hasan Mahmood toiled through 42.5 overs to pick up 4 for 95.

A top-order collapse by Multan in their second innings gave National Bank of Pakistan the edge on day two at the Multan Cricket Stadium. After taking a first-innings lead of 42, thanks to fast bowler Abdur Rauf's 39th career five-wicket haul, Multan slumped from 33 for 1 to 61 for 5. They ended the day on 63 for 5, a lead of just 105, with Shahid Khan on 1 and Taimur Ahmed on 13 carrying the team's hopes on the third day. NBP's total of 262 was build around a 105-run partnership for the fifth-wicket between Naumanullah (78*) and Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (60).

Rawalpindi are poised to take a first-innings lead over Pakistan International Airlines at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after finishing the day on 184 for 4 chasing 214. Naved Malik, who made 76, and captain Babar Naeem gave them a solid start, adding 69 together before Naeem was bowled by Aziaz Cheema. Shoiab Nassir went soon after for 9, also to Cheema, but Malik and Zahid Mansoor (43) steadied the innings with a 67-run stand for the third wicket. Unfortunately, for Rawalpindi, Malik was out just before the close of play, but the team is still in a good position heading into day three. Earlier in the day, the last-wicket pair of Ali Imran and Cheema put on 43 to take PIA past 200.

Hundreds from Faisal Khan and Mohammad Ayub carried Sialkot to 465 against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited at the Jinnah stadium in Sialkot. Faisal was bowled by Azhar Shafiq for 108, while Ayub made 116 before he became one of Imran Khalid's four victims. It could have been worse for SNGPL, as Ayub and wicketkeeper Ahmed Butt put on 112 runs to take Sialkot to 453 for 5. But the bowlers, led by Khalid, took the last five wickets for just 12 runs. In reply, SNGPL were 66 for 2, with Naeemuddin on 34 not out.