SSGC, UBL, Lahore Whites record inconsequential wins

KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), United Bank Limited (UBL) and Lahore Whites recorded victories on the third day of their last round four-day fixtures of the Super Eight stage of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2017-18 at different venues here on Sunday.

As both the defending champions WAPDA and former champions Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) had qualified for the final from their respective groups on Saturday, the third day’s results were inconsequential.

In a Group B outing, here at State Bank of Pakistan Ground, SSGC made a stunning fight-back to defeat WAPDA by seven wickets thanks to a superb 133 not out from Test opener Sami Aslam.

Sami hammered 11 fours and four sixes from 162 balls to enable SSGC to achieve the 302-run target in only 56.4 overs after losing three wickets.

Sami, who hit his eighth first-class hundred, added 121 for the opening stand with Zain Abbas, who chipped in with a solid 65 off 76 balls, striking eight fours and one six.Sami then put on 130 for the fourth wicket unbroken stand with skipper Fawad Alam, who hammered unbeaten 69.

The left-hander, who is fighting for his return to international cricket, smashed 11 fours and one six from 68 balls.Left-arm spinner Khalid Usman and off-spinner Mansoor Amjad got one wicket each.

Having gained a 72-run lead, WAPDA resumed their second innings at 97-4 and were skittled out for 229.Khushdil Shah (54) hit his second fifty in the match, hammering five fours and two sixes from 94 balls he faced.

Skipper Salman Butt, who was batting on 11, fell for 29. The former Pakistan captain struck four fours in his 79-ball effort.Left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti did the main damage with 4-101, for 7-141 match-tally.

Medium pacer Mohammad Irfan Junior got 3-65, for 6-133 match-haul.WAPDA scored 232 in their first innings. In response, SSGC had perished for 160.In the other Group II outing, here at UBL Sports Complex, UBL defeated Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) by six wickets.

Having conceded a 132-run lead, KRL resumed their second innings at 103-4 and were folded for 226 to set a target of only 95 for the bankers who achieved that in the 16th over for the loss of four wickets.

Jaahid Ali hit 83 in KRL’s innings, which featured 13 fours. He faced 192 balls. Luqman Butt made 33 off 74 balls with six fours.Left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar was the pick of the bowlers with 5-74, for a match tally of 8-102.

Pacer Mir Hamza got 3-56, for 6-86 in the match. Sameen Gul captured 2-52, for 5-86 match-haul.UBL finished the group as runners-up with 15 points, one behind leaders WAPDA.

KRL posted 151 in their first innings. In response, UBL made 283 to take a substantial lead.In a Group I meeting, here at NBP Sports Complex, Lahore Whites registered a consolation victory when they upstaged Habib Bank Limited (HBL) by five wickets. Lahore Whites raced to the 156-run target in the 50th over for the loss of five wickets.

After losing three quick wickets, Salman Fayyaz (65) and skipper Usman Salahuddin (35) shared 81 for the fourth wicket stand to play a key role in their team’s win after they had conceded a 54-run lead. Medium pacer Ammad Butt got 3-17, for 6-38 match figures.

HBL resumed their second innings at 72-5 and perished for 101. Ammad hit 35 off 78 balls, striking one four.Left-arm young spinner Mohammad Irfan got 5-55. Paceman Waqas Ahmed claimed 4-19.HBL scored 226 in their first innings. In response, Lahore Whites managed only 172.

The five-day final will begin from December 21.

Points Table

Teams P W L D Points NRR

Group–I

SNGPL 3 2 0 1 21 0.209

HBL 3 1 1 1 10 -0.650

Lahore Blues 3 1 2 0 9 0.674

Lahore Whites 3 1 2 0 6 0.128

Group–II

WAPDA 3 2 1 0 16 -0.368

UBL 3 2 1 0 15 0.664

SSGC 3 2 1 0 12 0.595

KRL 3 0 3 0 0 -1.173