Asif picks three to put WAPDA in final

By our correspondents

December 07, 2016

KARACHI: Test pacer Mohammad Asif picked 3-41 to put WAPDA in the final as they secured 47 runs lead in the drawn Group I fixture of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2016-17 against Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, on Tuesday.

On the fourth and final day of the Super Eight game, Asif removed Maqbool Ahmed (57), Zia-ul-Haq (2) and Ahmed Jamal (0) to dismiss SSGC for 306 after they had resumed their first innings at 298-7 in response to WAPDA’s 353. Maqbool failed to add to his overnight total and was trapped leg before. Mohammad Irfan hit 36 not out with three fours.

WAPDA reached 136-4 in their second innings by the end of the game.

Zahid Mansoor (39), skipper Salman Butt (33) and Test stumper Kamran Akmal (30) were the prominent scorers.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Irfan was the pick of the bowlers with 3-38.

The win enabled WAPDA to end Group I as leaders with 22 points. SSGC finished as the runners-up with 19 points.

WAPDA will face Habib Bank Limited (HBL) in the day-night five-day final here at National Stadium from December 10-14.

This is the second time that WAPDA have reached the final. They first reached the final in 2003.

HBL on Monday qualified for the decider when their Group II game against United Bank Limited (UBL) was abandoned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after discussion with UBL manager Nadeem Khan and match referee Ishtiaq Ahmed in the wake of fire at Regent Plaza because of which several UBL players received injuries.

Meanwhile, in the day-night Group I show here at National Stadium, three-time former champions Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) crushed Karachi Whites by 190 runs.

Chasing 393, Karachi Whites were bundled out for 202 after resuming at 63-5.

Daniyal Ahsan hit unbeaten run-a-ball 52 which featured ten fours. Babar Rehman struck 36 off 44 deliveries, striking seven fours.

Mohammad Imran got 4-73, for a match haul of 6-130.

Imran Ali captured 2-60, for 5-91 match figures.

SNGPL posted 361 and 237. Karachi Whites accumulated 206 in their first innings.

In the Group II meeting, here at the UBL Sports Complex, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) defeated National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) by 26 runs.

Chasing 142, NBP resumed their second innings at 54-4 and were bowled out for 115. Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas once again bowled extremely well and picked 7-52. He finished the match with 10-99. The Sialkot-born bowler ended his superb season with 71 wickets to his credit. Tabish Khan ended the season with 62 scalps.

He was backed by Ahmed Bashir, who snared 3-5, ending the game with 7-61.

KRL posted 244 and 184. NBP made 287 in their first innings.

Super eight group I

Teams M W L T D A Pts

Group A

WAPDA 3 2 0 0 1 0 22

SSGC 3 2 0 0 1 0 19

SNGCP 3 1 2 0 0 0 9

KarWh 3 0 3 0 0 0 0

Group B

HBL 3 2 0 0 1 0 16

UBL 3 1 0 0 2 0 10