SNGPL beat Dolphins as President’s Gold Cup begins

KARACHI: Imran Butt hit career-best 98 to enable Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) to beat Karachi Dolphins by four wickets in their Group I opener of the President’s Gold Cup One-day Tournament 2014-15 at the National Stadium on Monday.
The 19-year-old Butt smashed 12 fours from 111 deliveries, while Imran Khalid struck rapid unbeaten 29-ball 47 to enable SNGPL to chase the 235-run target with 12 balls to spare.
Imran Khalid had also picked 4-40 with his left-arm spin to dismiss Karachi Dolphins for 234 in 48 overs.
Dolphins lost their skipper Rameez Raja (0) and Mohammad Waqas (11) early. Saad Ali (81) and opener Fazal Subhan (59) added 85 for the third wicket to bring stability to the innings.
After Azhar Ali removed Fazal, who hit four fours and a six from 76 balls, Babar Hussain (0) got run out to leave Dolphins reeling at 120-4.
Left-hander Saad then added 56 for the fifth wicket with Faraz Ahmed (32) to take Dolphins to 176-5. But Dolphins lost their remaining five wickets for just 58 runs.
Saad struck ten fours from 93 balls, while Faraz cracked two fours and a six from 34 deliveries.
International pacer Asad Ali picked 3-40 in eight overs.
In response, SNGPL found themselves in deep trouble when they were reduced to 64-4. Imran Butt and Adnan Akmal (20) made good recovery with a 59-run fifth wicket stand.
Imran Khalid and Hussain Talat (35) then added 61 for the seventh wicket unbroken stand to take their team comfortably home.
Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza picked 3-70 from 10 overs. Here at NBP Sports Complex, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) demolished Rawalpindi Rams by 129 runs.
Skipper Kamran Akmal (84), Sami Aslam (76) and Fawad Alam (57) blasted fine fifties to guide NBP to 288 all out in 47.1 overs.
Kamran, who added 115 for the second wicket with Sami, smashed eight fours and two sixes in his 83-ball knock. Sami cracked seven fours and a six from 65 balls.
Fawad smacked two sixes and two fours in his 55-ball feat.
Off-spinner Muneer Ansari picked 4-57, while pacer Hamza Sultan Ali (3-39) and spinner Yasim Murtaza (2-72) smartly backed him.
In reply, Rams were skittled out for 159 in 44 overs. Usman Saeed struck 60-ball 51 with four fours and three sixes. Talha Qureshi blasted 51-ball 42 with three fours and a six.
Left-arm pacer Zia-ul-Haq got 3-29 from six overs. Raza Hasan, Fawad Alam and Mohammad Nawaz got two wickets each.
At UBL Sports Complex, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) were given walkover as Peshawar Panthers failed to arrive as their flight from Peshawar was cancelled on Sunday.
However, they have now reached the port city for the remaining of their group matches.
In a Group II show here at RLCA Ground, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) defeated Karachi Zebras by 24 runs.
Skipper Saeed Anwar Junior blasted 121 not out off 103 balls with six fours and six sixes to propel KRL to 277-4 in the allotted 50 overs.
Shoaib Ahmed (42), Zain Abbas (36) and Ali Khan (34) also played useful innings.
Faraz Patel captured 2-30 from nine overs with his off-spin.
In response, Zebras were restricted to 253-9. Saud Shakeel struck 76-ball 59 with three fours. Owais Rehmani (45), Faraz Patel (43*) and Behram Khan (40) were the other prominent contributors.
Pacer Sadaf Hussain picked 3-64, while Nouman Ali claimed 2-42.
At Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Lahore Lions defeated Port Qasim Authority (PQA) by seven wickets thanks to Umar Siddiq’s fine century.
Umar struck 75-ball 100 not out with 11 fours to enable Lions to achieve the 253-run target in 44.1 overs after losing three wickets.
Waqas Salim hit 105-ball 67 with eight fours and added 82 for the opening stand with Ikhlaq Butt, who hammered 62-ball 52 with seven fours and a six.
Earlier, Khurram Manzoor slammed 80 off 111 deliveries with seven fours to guide PQA to 252. Shahzaib Hasan (34) and Noor Wali (33) also batted well.
Saad Nasim (3-50) and Ali Tipu (2-47) bowled well for Lions.
Here at the Southend Club Ground, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) routed Islamabad Leopards by 127 runs.
Abid Ali (85) and Mukhtar Ahmed (77) made 96 runs for the second wicket to guide SBP to pile up 272.
Abid struck six fours from 92 balls, while Mukhtar cracked eight fours from 97 deliveries.
Medium pacer Zohaib Ahmed got 3-56, while Hamza Nadeem captured 2-48. In reply, Leopards perished for 145.
Opener Umar Kiyani belted 52-ball 41 with five fours and two sixes. Spinners Kashif Bhatti (3-29), Zafar Gohar (2-18) and Zahid Mehmood (2-32) bowled well.