ISLAMABAD: Test cricketer Azhar Ali (118) returned to the domestic cricket with a bang smashing century as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) had a hey day against Habib Bank Limited (HBL) at the NBP Stadium in Karachi on the opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Super Eight match on Sunday. Azhar, who recently returned back following knee treatment, smashed 12 boundaries during his 229-ball watchful knock to see his team reaching 294-2 at draw of stumps on the opening day. Khurram Shahzad (113 not out) was the other centurion in the match. He so far had hit eight fours and four sixes in his 225-ball unbeaten knock.HBL attack led by Umar Gul (1-63) was unimpressive.Score in brief: SNGPL 294-2 in 85.2 overs (Azhar Ali 118, Khurram Shahzad 113 not out, Muhammad Hafeez 37; Ammad Butt 1-52, Umar Gul 1-53) v HBL. At UBL Ground No 1, Karachi: Lahore Region Whites 141 in 47.2 overs (Rizwan Hussain 42, Muhammad Irfan 41; Aizaz Cheema 4-43, Bilawal Iqbal 4-42) v Lahore Region Blues 150-4 in 33 overs (Tayyab Tahir 71 not out, Saad Nasim 53 not out; Umaid Asif 3-54). At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: UBL 252 in 79.3 overs (Shan Masood 75, Saad Ali 52, Hammad Azam 25, Gulraiz Sadaf 22; Ahmed Jamal 6-34, Kashif Bhatti 3-93) v SSGC 31-2 in 6 overs (Sohail Khan 2-19). At State Bank Ground, Karachi: KRL 95 all out in 42.3 overs (Junaid Ali 40; Waqas Maqsood 9-32) v Wapda 96-6 in 32.3 overs (Khalid Usman 41 not out; Sadaf Hussain 4-33, Ahmed Bashir 2-23).
