Patron’s Trophy Final:

ZTBL take first day’s honours

By Our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: ZTBL got off to a solid start in the Patron’s Trophy Grade II final against Ghani Glass at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Looking to win the Patron’s Trophy and re-enter first class cricket next season, ZTBL scored 293 runs in their first innings on the opening day.

After being asked to bat first by Ghani Glass, ZTBL soon found themselves reeling at 27-3 when Aaqib Shah (72) and Shakil Ansar (52) started the repair job.

Both raised 106 runs for the fourth wicket to take ZTBL out of the woods.

Aaqib smashed eight boundaries in his 140-ball knock.

It was then left to captain Saad Nasim (71) to give the total respectability. He hit eight fours in his 83-ball stay at the wicket and was the last man out.

For Ghani Glass, pace bowler Mohammad Umar took four wickets for 120 runs while leg-spinner Husnain Bukhari had three for 41.

Ghani Glass reached 10-1 in nine overs when stumps were drawn for the day.

Scores in brief: ZTBL 293 all out in 78.1 overs (Aaqib Shah 72, Saad Nasim 71, Shakil Ansar 52, Raza Ali Dar 26; Mohammad Umar 4-120, Husnain Bukhari 3-41, Ulfat Shah 2-58). Ghani Glass 10-1 (Zeeshan Ashraf 4 not out, Yousaf Babar 4 not out; Hamza Nadeem 1-2).