Sami bowls National Bank to victory

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami bowled National Bank to a 41-run win on the final day of their first-round Pentangular Cup match against Sialkot at Multan.

Sami, 25 - who has appeared in 25 Tests and 76 ODIs for Pakistan - captured five wickets for 48 runs in 18.4 overs as Sialkot, needing 271 runs to win the match, were bowled out for 229 in their second innings.

National Bank, after having gained a first-innings advantage of 102 runs, scored only a modest 168 in their second outing. As they resumed at their overnight 139 for 6 yesterday, Sialkot's tall left-arm paceman Sarfraz Ahmed hastened their fall with fine figures of 5 for 33.

Skipper Tahir Mughal, after having been hit for 179 runs in his 32 overs in the second innings, recovered to take 3 for 61 in the second. Teenage allrounder Mansoor Amjad contributed 35 in National Bank's second innings, off 61 balls with three fours.

Sami, whose last five-for was 22 first-class matches ago -- for Kent against Northamptonshire in May 2004 - bowled impeccably either side of some useful batting by Ayub Dogar and Haafiz Khalid. Ayub remained unbeaten with 71, facing 133 balls and hitting seven fours. Wicketkeeper Khalid's 37 came off 57 deliveries with three fours and a six.

National Bank joined Faisalabad at the top of the table, as both have gained nine points each. The latter, however, are ahead on the basis of a superior net run-rate.

Sialkot, the current national cricket champions, will now meet table leaders Faisalabad in a second-round match at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, from Wednesday (tomorrow). From the same day, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will be playing against Karachi Harbour here at the Multan Cricket Stadium.