QAT Super-Eight: SSGC, Lahore Whites, UBL record victories

KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC),United Bank Limited (UBL) and Lahore Whites recorded victories on the third day of the 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 so the third day’s outcome of the matches did not have any impact on the situation. In Group B outing here at State Bank of Pakistan Ground, SSGC made a stunning fightback 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 in the process.

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 fort his return to international circket, smashed 11 fours and one six from 68 balls.

Left-arm spinner Khalid Usman and off-spinner Mansoor Amjad got one wicket each.Earlier after 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 successive 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. Mohammad Irfan Junior, the medium pacer, got 3-65, for 6-133 match-haul. WAPDA scored 232 in their first innings. In response, SSGC perished for 160.

Meanwhile in the other Group II outing here at UBL Sports Complex, UBL defeated Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) by six wickets. After 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 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 8-102 match-tally. Pacer Mir Hamza got 3-56, for 6-86 match-tally and Sameen Gul captured 2-52, for 5-86 match-haul. UBL finished the group as runners-up with 15 points, just a single point behind leaders WAPDA.

KRL posted 151 in their first innings. In response, UBL made 283 to take a substantial lead. In Group I meeting here at NBP Sports Complex, Lahore Whites ended with a consolation victory when they upstaged Habib Bank Limited (HBL) by five wickets. Lahore Whites raced to the 156-run target in 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 fantastic win despite conceding a 54-run lead. Medium pacer Ammad Butt got 3-17, for 6-38 match figures. Earlier after taking lead HBL resumed their second innings at 72-5 and perished for 101. Ammad Butt hit 35 off 78 balls, striking one four. Left-arm young spinner Mohamamd Irfan got 5-55. Paceman Waqas Ahmed claimed 4-19.

HBL scored 226 in their first innings. In response, Lahore Whites piled-up only 172. The five-day final will begin from December 21.