Akhlaq, Salman hit centuries in rain-hit President’s Cup match

LAHORE: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) emerged victorious over Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in the fourth round of the President’s Cup one-day tournament at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

The match was reduced to 23 overs per side due to overnight rain. Opting to bat first, WAPDA posted a challenging total of 201 for three, propelled by an outstanding unbeaten century from opener Muhammad Akhlaq, who scored 101 runs off just 66 balls, including 13 boundaries and four sixes. Akhlaq formed a formidable partnership with Ahmed Shehzad, who contributed a brisk 59 off 47 deliveries, featuring seven fours and a six.

SBP chased down the target with six wickets in hand on the penultimate delivery of the match. Salman Ali Agha played a sensational innings, smashing an unbeaten 101 off 56 balls, comprising 13 fours and four sixes. After a shaky start that saw SBP lose four wickets for 127 runs, Salman combined forces with Mohammad Mohsin, who remained not out on 23 off 13 balls, to steer their team to victory with an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 77 runs. Meanwhile, the fixture between Ghani Glass and Higher Education Commission (HEC) at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium was abandoned without a ball being bowled.