KARACHI: Test pacer Ehsan Adil and international all-rounder Hammad Azam bowled splendidly to enable United Bank Limited (UBL) to secure a 120-run lead against National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on the second day of their Group II outing of the Super Eight stage of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy here at UBL Sports Complex on Tuesday.
Ehsan (4-43) and Hammad (4-37) bowled with tight line and length to dismiss NBP for 148 in their first innings in response to UBL’s total of 268.
Fahim Ashraf, batting down the order, scored 44 off 79 balls with nine fours. He added 54 runs for the seventh wicket with Akbar-ur-Rehman (33), who struck six fours from 45 deliveries. Qaiser Abbas made 39-ball 25 with four fours.
Skipper Kamran Akmal (12) and left-handed Fawad Alam (5) failed to click when their team wanted them to deliver.
UBL were 60-3 in their second innings, for a total lead of 180. Opener Umair Khan made 30 off 66 balls with five fours.
Skipper Younis Khan (19*) and Saeed Bin Nasir (1*) were at the crease when bails were drawn.
Earlier, UBL resumed their first innings at 228-7 and were all out after adding 40 runs.
Hammad belted 58-ball 31 with four fours and a six.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar was the pick of the bowlers with 5-72 in 27.5 overs.
Fast bowler Ahmed Jamal grabbed 3-52, which included the prized scalp of Hammad.
In the other show of Group II, at Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Karachi Whites lost their remaining six wickets for just 27 runs as they perished for 269 after resuming their first innings at 242-4 against Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
Saud Shakeel, who was batting on 56 on Monday, remained not out on 67 in which he struck eight fours. The last four batsmen got out without opening their account.
Medium pacer Adnan Ghaus, who has played for the second strings of Derbyshire and Lancashire, was the main destroyer as the right-armer produced his career-best figures of 6-72 in 24 overs. Rajesh Ramesh ably backed him with 4-65.
In response, SSGC were 214-4 in their first innings. Awais Zia (85*) and Asif Zakir (66*) were at the crease.
At one stage SSGC were reeling at 75-4, but Awais and Asif played responsibly and added 139 runs for the fifth wicket unbroken partnership.
Chakwal-born Awais, who has played five T20 Internationals, smacked 11 fours and one six in his unfinished 125 ball knock. Asif banged 11 fours from 128 balls.
Paceman Adeel Malik got 2-44.
In a Group I outing, here at National Stadium, Naeemuddin smashed a sparkling unbeaten 102 to enable Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) to gain a substantial lead. After resuming at 38-1 they reached 337-7 in their first innings in response to Khan Research Laboratories’ (KRL) total of 208.
They are now 129 runs ahead with three wickets in hand.
Experienced left-handed Naeemuddin struck 14 fours in his solid unfinished innings. The Sialkot-born player, who completed his 16th first-class hundred, dominated the partnership with Bilawal Bhatti (33*), who struck four fours and a six.
Umar Akmal smashed 66 off 82 balls which had 12 fours and a six.
Imran Khalid made 44 with six fours.
Pacers Mohammad Abbas, Sadaf Hussain and Rahat Ali claimed two wickets each.
Here at NBP Sports Complex, Raza Ali Dar (133) decorated the day with a superb hundred to guide Lahore Blues to post 511 all out in their first innings after resuming at 302-4 against WAPDA.
The left-hander struck 14 fours and a six from 303 balls. Agha Salman (115) fell after adding only two runs to his overnight score. Bilawal Iqbal (53) and Farhan Khan (43) also batted well. Fast bowler Naseer Akram captured 4-103. Zulfiqar Babar and Haziq Habibullah claimed two wickets each. WAPDA, in reply, were 17-1 at stumps.