Zia sparkles as NBP crush Karachi Whites

KARACHI: Left-arm rookie pacer Zia-ul-Haq ended with nine wickets in the match as National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) demolished Karachi Whites by an innings and 23 runs on the last day of their four-day Group B match of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy here at National Stadium on Thursday.
Vehari-born Zia, who had produced his career-best figures of 6-40 in the first innings, picked 3-83 in the second innings to enable NBP to dismiss Karachi Whites on 215 in their second innings after they had resumed at 96-4.
Karachi Whites had conceded massive 238 runs first innings lead.
Saad Ali, who was batting on 21, went on to hit his second successive fifty, scoring 62 with ten fours.
Saad added 47 for the seventh wicket with debutant Salman Zeb, who belted 48-ball 32 with five fours and a six.
Zia was ably backed by left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz with 3-34.
Karachi Whites had scored 227 all out in their first innings. In response, NBP posted 465-4 declared.
The ten points helped NBP remain at the top in the group with 23 points.
Karachi Whites have six points which they gained by virtue of their first innings lead in their drawn encounters against WAPDA and Habib Bank Limited (HBL).
In a Group A clash, at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) recorded their maiden win when they defeated Hyderabad by 153 runs.
Chasing 364, Hyderabad were bowled out for 210 with skipper Azeem Ghumman scoring 51 with six fours.
Rizwan Ahmed struck 42 not out which featured four fours. Shoaib Leghari made 32 with two hits to the fence.
Left-arm spinner Imran Khalid captured 5-62, for match-haul of 7-170.
SNGPL, who had secured 60 runs lead, did not resume their second innings and declared it at the overnight score of 303-8 to give a tough target to their rivals.
SNGPL had scored 331 in their first innings. In reply, Hyderabad posted 271.
The output pushed SNGPL to the second spot with 15 points. United Bank Limited (UBL) lead the group with 20 points.
The Group A encounter between Islamabad and Port Qasim Authority (PQA) ended in a draw at the Diamond Club Ground in the federal capital with both the sides taking one point each because the latter did not complete their first innings due to rain.
In response to Islamabad’s first innings score of 326, PQA began the day at 47-2 and reached 114 without losing any further wicket by the end of the game.
Only 17 overs were bowled on the last day and 122.5 overs in the entire showdown.
Faraz Ali (57) and skipper Khalid Latif (33*) shared 74 runs for the third wicket unbroken association. They hit five fours each. PQA moved to ten points. Islamabad opened their account with the one point.
The game between WAPDA and Lahore Whites also failed to yield any result with the latter gaining three points due to their first innings lead.
In reply to Lahore Whites’ first innings total of 344, WAPDA were bowled out for 275 after resuming at 199-5.
Mohammad Saad, who was batting on 91, struck 125 with 16 fours and two sixes. This was the fourth century of his career. Fahad Masood claimed 4-55, while Umar Farooq picked 3-35.
By the end of the match Lahore Whites were 139-4 in their second innings.
International player Mukhtar Ahmed (75) and Anas Mehmood (43) put on 109 for the second wicket after Test opener Sami Aslam (0) was removed by Test seamer Junaid Khan in the first over.
Mukhtar hammered ten fours and two sixes. Anas banged eight fours. Lahore Whites opened their account with three points. WAPDA also have three points.
At Pindi Cricket Stadium, in Rawalpindi, the rain-hit match between Rawalpindi and Habib Bank Limited (HBL) also ended in a stalemate with the hosts securing three points.
After getting a two-run lead Rawalpindi reached 34-1 in their second innings as only 9.4 overs were bowled because of the inclement weather.
Rawalpindi posted 183 in their first innings. In response, HBL made 181.
The outing between Peshawar and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) also remained inconclusive because of rain which washed out the whole fourth day’s play.
Peshawar scored 246 in their first innings. In response, SSGC made 117-4. Both outfits claimed one point each.