Rehman spins KRL to big win

Abdul Rehman, Habib Bank's left-hand allrounder, returned career-best bowling figures of 6 for 28, as Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) crashed to a nine-wicket defeat on the third day of the second-round Patron's Trophy Cricket Championship match at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex at Karachi.

The game seemed to be ambling along even after Habib Bank had taken a first-innings lead of 90, having replied with 337 yesterday. But, in their second outing, KRL were simply decimated by Rehman's slow left-arm and managed a poor 132 all out.

Needing only 43 to win, Habib Bank got there in nine overs for the loss of one wicket and completed an emphatic triumph with a full day to spare, something that must have left them a bit surprised.

Rehman, 25, picked up a match haul of 11 for 148, taking ten or more in a first-class encounter for the first time in his career. A third-wicket partnership between Mohammad Wasim (35), the captain, and Ali Naqvi (30), also a former Pakistan opener, yielded 53 runs before Rehman returned to spin a web around the batting order. Eight wickets fell for the addition of only a further 62 runs, as only two other batsmen managed to get into double figures. Although he finished on the losing side, Naqvi made valuable scores of 74 and 30 in the match in addition to taking 4 for 47 with his medium-pace in Habib Bank's first innings.

Earlier, Farhan Adil, resuming at his overnight 73, was dismissed after making 85 off 165 balls. Rehman then showed his batting prowess with a quick 37 in just short of an hour and a half with four fours and a six.

In their first-round match habib Bank, the record seven-time Patron's Trophy winners, claimed the three first innings points from a draw against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Pakistan Customs took six points in their win over KRL, after the latter had earlier attained the first innings lead.

Wasim Khan, the fast bowler, finished with 12 wickets in the match as National Bank raced to a big 10-wicket victory over Service Industries, on the third day of their Patron's Trophy clash at the Sheikhupura Stadium. Resuming at their overnight 90 for 5, Service Industries required another 75 runs to avert an innings debacle. They just managed to do that, but were bowled out for 176, leaving National Bank with just 13 to win - a target achieved in just 11 balls.

National Bank have won the Patron's Trophy title five times, while Service Industries qualified for this season's first-class circuit after having won the Patron's Trophy Grade-II tournament of 2004-05. They were beaten by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) in their first-round Group B encounter.

Earlier, Farhan Asghar, the Service wicketkeeper, fought well with an unbeaten 75, including 13 boundaries. His sixth-wicket partnership with Mustansar Ali produced 82, but the end for his team was not far. Khan's 6 for 73 in the second innings gave him match figures of 12 for 111.

Although Pakistan Customs replied to the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) total of 498 with courage, they were still 261 behind as the third day of their Patron's Trophy match came to a close, at the United Bank Limited Sports Complex Ground No.1 at Karachi. However, even with a score of 237 for 6, Customs needed to reach a tally of 348 to avoid the follow-on. But, with only more day to play in the match, unless something dramatic happens on Monday it appears to be heading for a draw.

SNGPL, who may now only be looking towards getting the three first innings lead points, failed to add to their overnight 498 for eight -- which they had compiled over the full first two days -- and lost the remaining two wickets in the one over bowled early yesterday.

Customs were off to a sound start with Kashif Siddiq (66) and Hasnain Abbas (59) adding 98 runs together. The score was 147 for 1, when the next four wickets managed to add just a further 33 runs. The in-form Afsar Nawaz and Sajid Ali, the veteran, perished without scoring. Imran Khalid, Faisalabad's slow left-armer, bagged three wickets and Mahmood Malik two with his fast-medium pacers. Fawad Alam, the teenaged left-hander, is still at the crease having scored an unbeaten 45.

In their first-round match of the tournament, Customs had started by beating KRL although they collected only six points instead of the full nine as they had earlier surrendered the first innings lead. SNGPL did not have a match to play in the previous round.

A second career hundred from Zulqarnain Haider, the PTCL wicketkeeper, extended his team's first-innings lead over Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), on the third day of their second-round Patron's Trophy match, at the Iqbal Stadium at Faisalabad. Starting the day yesterday at 265 for 6, six runs ahead of ZTBL's 259, PTCL took their total to 379, an overall advantage of 120. By the day's close, ZTBL had scored 104 for 2 in their second innings.

Zulqarnain, 19, hit a fine 102 while assisting Aamer Bashir, his captain, in a 116 run fourth-wicket stand on Saturday. Yesterday, he helped Tahir Mughal in another useful partnership of 52 for the seventh wicket. Tahir later went on score a valuable 70 off 112 balls with seven boundaries. ZTBL's most successful bowler was Naeem Anjum, the slow left-arm bowler, who captured five for 122 runs in 37.3 overs.

ZTBL, who have won the Patron's Trophy title four times, were beaten by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), 2003-04 runners-up, in the first round. PTCL, however, took six points from their win over Service Industries in their opening game.