SSGC, WAPDA still in contention, SNGPL out

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

KARACHI: Holders Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) crashed out of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on Monday when they were outclassed by Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) by an innings and 45 runs inside three days in their Group I outing of the Super Eight here at SBP Ground on Monday.

In the other outing of the group, WAPDA whipped Karachi Whites by an innings and 80 runs to take a step forward towards qualifying for the final.

SSGC and WAPDA now have 19 points each and the last group game between these two at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, latter this week will decide Group I finalists.

After being forced to follow-on, Mohammad Hafeez-led SNGPL resumed their second innings at 63-2 and perished for 225 in 106.2 overs.

Iftikhar Ahmed, who made his Test debut against England this year, hit a fighting 100 but his side was eliminated as it was its second successive loss in the Super Eight stage.

Peshawar-born Iftikhar struck ten fours and one six from 213 balls before being bowled by speedster Ahmed Jamal.

After Mohammad Imran (19) failed to add to his overnight total, international paceman Bilawal Bhatti (15) provided some support to Iftikhar down the order to take the three-time champions past the 200-run mark.

Left-arm paceman Zia-ul-Haq (3-62) and Ahmed Jamal (3-27) were the main destroyers. Jamal finished the game with 5-45. Zia wrapped up the show with 4-79.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Irfan got 2-39, for 3-45 match figures. International all-rounder Aamer Yamin got one wicket, ending the game with seven scalps.

SSGC posted 355 in their first innings. SNGPL were bowled out for 85.

This has been a fine season for SSGC so far as they are yet to lose a game out of nine matches.

WAPDA-Karachi Whites game here at NBP Sports Complex turned out to be a one-sided affair as the former faced no resistance from the regional side.

Having conceded a huge 249 runs lead, Karachi Whites failed to click in the second innings too and were folded for only 169 in 48.5 overs.

At one stage Karachi Whites were tottering at 33-5, but Saad Ali (57) and Mohammad Hasan (56) shared 107 for the sixth wicket. Saad struck nine fours in his 104-ball fifty. Hasan smacked 11 fours in his 65-ball knock.

Left-arm international spinner Zulfiqar Babar was the hero for WAPDA as he took 4-81, for an impressive match-haul of 9-156. Left-arm spinner Khalid Usman snared 4-35, for 6-65 match tally.

In response to Karachi Whites’ first innings total of 172, WAPDA resumed their innings at 417-9 and were bowled out for 421. Off-spinner Raza-ul-Hasan, who took the last wicket of Mohammad Irfan (3), claimed 3-93.

This was the second successive loss for Karachi Whites and they are now out of the competition.

In a Group B outing, here at UBL Sports Complex, international all-rounder Hammad Azam struck splendid 102 to enable last year’s runners-up United Bank Limited (UBL) to set a 297-run target for National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) when they were bowled out for 301 in their second innings after resuming at 92-4.

UBL had conceded five runs lead.

Hammad, who was batting on 11 on Sunday, hammered ten fours and one six in his 144-ball knock.

He shared 138 runs for the sixth wicket with Yasim Murtaza (51), who hammered seven fours from 127 deliveries.

Tail-ender Sameen Gul (26) gave ample support to his seniors.

Test opener Shan Masood (31) fell after he had added only one run to his overnight score.

Medium fast bowler Atif Jabbar produced his carer-best figures of 7-74, for excellent 11-114 match-figures.

Qaiser Abbas, who has played one Test for Pakistan, captured 2-50.

NBP were struggling at 55-3. Navved Sarwar (26) and Qaiser Abbas (1) were batting.

Rookie fast bowler Sameen Gul got 2-13. NBP still need 242 to record their first win.

In the day-night Group II clash here at National Stadium, Habib Bank Limited (HBL) declared their second innings at 393-8 to set 388 runs target for Khan Research Laboratories (KRL). KRL were 40-2 at stumps.

The hall-mark of HBL, who resumed at 148-3, was a solid 107-run sixth wicket stand between Ramiz Aziz (74) and Test discard Imran Farhat (46). Aziz hit ten fours and a six in his fine 111-ball feat.

The left-handed Farhat smacked five fours from 78 deliveries. Mohammad Waqas struck 52 off 76 balls, hitting six fours. Left-arm experienced paceman Sadaf Hussain got 4-86, for 6-137 match-figures.