A round-up of the fourth day of the ninth round matches of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy
Cricinfo staff10-Dec-2007Group AAfter having conceded a 110-run first-innings lead, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) looked set for a win against Karachi Whites before the hosts batted bravely for a draw at the National Stadium. Resuming at their overnight 94 for 2 – 16 runs in deficit – Karachi scored 267 for 8 in their second innings before the match was called off. The highlight of the day was a century by opening batsman Khalid Latif and a useful 61 at No. 6 by Asim Kamal. Latif’s 124 off 248 balls was his sixth first-class century and was scored with the help of 15 fours and a six. WAPDA’s paceman Azharullah, meanwhile, took five wickets for 59 runs for a match haul of eight for 111.Hyderabad made a spirited effort to reach the 303-run victory target set them by the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) at Niaz Stadium on Monday but could only manage 221 for 6. The total was possible thanks mainly to a splendid 90 off just 87 balls with 10 fours by Rizwan Ahmed. National Bank, however, picked up the three first-innings lead points but, with a tally of 51 from eight matches, they still have to be restricted to second position in Group A.The match between Lahore Ravi and Multan at Gaddafi Stadium also ended in a draw. Lahore, after gaining a 52-run first-innings lead, scored 274 to increase that to 326. However, with the weather restricting proceedings, Multan could only bat nine overs in which they scored 49 for 3.Faisalabad took three points in their match against Sialkot at Sheikhupura Stadium after there was no play on the fourth and final day due to rain and bad weather.Group BIt didn’t take Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) long on the final day to register an innings-and-186 runs win against Karachi Blues at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium and soar to the top of the group’s points table. Resuming at their overnight 180 for 5 in their second innings, Karachi required another 216 runs just to make SNGPL bat again. In the 20 overs they consumed on the final day, they managed only 30 runs and lost the last five wickets to be bowled out for a modest 210. Four of the last five wickets were picked up by SNGPL’s 25-year-old left-arm medium-fast bowler Samiullah Niazi who finished with figures of five for 23 runs in 18 overs.Islamabad saved themselves from defeat at the hands of Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) after having been forced to follow on at the Diamond Cricket Club Ground. Islamabad followed on 211 runs behind KRL’s 465 and, in their second innings, made 276 for 6 in a resolute display that restricted their opponents to just three points from the match. At one stage, the home team were reeling at 147 for 6, which meant that they still needed another 64 runs to avoid an innings defeat. However, a dogged 54 by Asadullah Sumeri before he retired hurt and an unbeaten 80 by Rauf Akbar, who faced only 89 balls and hit 11 fours and two sixes, rescued them from going down on the final day.Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were pushed down to second place in the group as they failed to win any points against Abbottabad at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium with the final day’s play being washed out.Needing 192 to avoid innings-defeat, Quetta batted throughout the final day against Rawalpindi at KRL Stadium and scored 175 for 6 in their second innings before the match petered out in a draw. Jalat Khan scored an unbeaten 50 from 169 deliveries – his second half-century of the match – to restrict Rawalpindi to only three points from the match.Bad weather allowed Peshawar to hold on for a draw against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) after being forced to follow-on at Arbab Niaz Stadium. Sajjad Ahmed scored an unbeaten 51 and shared an unbroken 65-run partnership with Azam Jan (39*) to take his side to safety before weather intervened.
Habib Bank 8 7 1 0 00 63 National Bnk 8 50 0 3 0 51WAPDA 8 4 0 0 40 42 Faisalabad 9 22 0 5 0 30Lahore Ravi 8 3 3 0 20 30 Karachi Whites 8 22 0 4 0 21Multan 9 2 3 0 40 21 Sui Sthn Gas 8 23 0 3 0 21Sialkot 8 1 3 0 40 15 Hyd (Pakstn) 8 04 0 4 0 3Pakistan Customs 8 0 7 0 10 3
Sui Gas 8 6 10 1 0 54 PIA 9 5 0 0 4 048 Islamabad 8 4 30 1 0 36 Khan RL 8 2 1 0 5 030 Zarai TBL 9 2 20 5 0 27 Rawalpindi 8 1 2 0 5 021 Lahore Shalimar 8 2 20 4 0 18 Peshawar 8 1 4 0 3 015 Karachi Blues 8 1 40 3 0 12 Abbottabad 8 0 2 0 6 09 Quetta 8 0 30 5 0 3