By By Alam Zeb Safi
At the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad, Karachi Blues, while chasing 197 to win against Islamabad, faced anxious moments before kissing their third consecutive win of the competition, to maintain the top spot with 27 points. After getting a solid 74 runs stand from openers Ali Asad (57) and Khalid Latif (37), Karachi Blues' wickets kept falling at regular interval before they ultimately reached home after losing eight wickets.
Javed Mansoor, in the end, played a key role in his team's victory with an unbeaten 33 off 50 balls.
Debutant Nasrullah Khan took four for 76, finishing with eight wickets in the match.
Earlier, after conceding 160 runs first innings lead, Islamabad fought back splendidly to post 356 in their second innings. Opener Umair Khan and middle order batter Ameer Khan accumulated 53 runs each. Tanvir Ahmad chipped in with six wickets, ending with ten in the match.
Meanwhile, in a Group A meeting here at the NBP Sports Complex, after conceding 96 runs first innings lead, Customs failed to fight back against PIA in their second innings as well, perishing on a paltry 142 to give the opponents a target of 47 to win, which they achieved without losing any wicket. Muhammad Nabi with 42 was the top scorer for Customs. For PIA Aizaz Cheema picked up five for 26, ending with eight wickets in the match.
Customs had scored 227 in their first innings while in reply PIA had amassed 323. The win took PIA's points to 15 from three matches.
Similarly, in other Group A match at the LCCA Ground in Lahore, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) crushed Lahore Shalimar by an innings and 53 runs. Lahore Shalimar resumed their second innings with their overnight score of 134 for four and the whole team got out for 260. All-rounder Muhammad Naved, in the end, hit fiery 75 off 55 deliveries which included 15 fours and a six.
Asad Ali clinched five wickets, finishing with eight in the show.
SNGPL had scored 609 for six declared while Lahore Shalimar had posted 296 in their first innings.
In a Group B show, Abbottabad inflicted a crushing 217 runs defeat on Hyderabad at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. While chasing 432 to win, Hyderabad were bundled for 215 in their second innings. Nasrullah Memon blasted fine 68. Pacer Junaid Khan took six for 89, ending with eight wickets in the show.
The Group A match between WAPDA and Habib Bank ended in a draw at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
WAPDA, after securing 57 runs first innings lead when they bowled HBL out for 354 in reply to their 411 first innings total, ended the final day's play on 316 for six in their second innings. Ali Azmat hit unbeaten 84 while Aamir Sajjad (69) and Bilal Khilji (50) were the main contributors.
Imran Farhat took two wickets for HBL. However, by virtue of first innings lead WAPDA opened their points tally with three.
Similarly, the Group B match between Faisalabad and Peshawar ended in a draw at the Sports Stadium, Sargodha with Faisalabad getting three points due to their 84 runs first innings lead.
Peshawar resumed their second innings on 213 for three and scored 459 for six till close. Captain Sajjad Ahmad (117 not out) and Azam Jan (110) illuminated the day's play. They put on 201 runs for the sixth wicket. Before them opener Fawad Ali had slammed 110 on Saturday. Zahoor Khan took two wickets for Faisalabad.