KARACHI: The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) faced a miserable opening day in its President’s Trophy fixture against State Bank of Pakistan as the team was bowled out for 189 here at National Stadium.
SBP, who are currently battling to avoid relegation, made life tough for PQA after stand-in captain Usman Arshad won the toss and opted for fielding first on a pitch that was clearly double-paced.
With Shahzaib Hasan and captain Khalid Latif sidelined due to illness, PQA lost wickets regularly, barring two occasions when former Test left-hander Asim Kamal utilised his vast experience in two partnerships with ex-Test pacemen Tanvir Ahmed and Mohammad Sami.
Asim, who scored 70 off 176 balls in just over three hours, was eighth out when an uncharacteristic sweep against slow left-armer Hasan Mahmood caused his downfall.
Tanvir, promoted to No 5, justified himself with a rapid 43 off 48 balls (eight fours and one six) while dominating a stand of 72 in 71 minutes with Asim.
Sami (37 off 57 balls, seven boundaries) then helped Asim put on 67 in 83 minutes for the seventh wicket before PQA lost their last four wickets for the addition of only four runs. Sami was dismissed hit-wicket when he attempted a wild swing at leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood.
Hasan bagged three wickets for 34 runs in 17 overs with pacemen Mohammad Naved and Tabish Khan plus Zahid chipping in with two apiece. SBP negotiated eight overs to reach 31-0 to end a rare good day for themselves in a season during which they had generally struggled.
United Bank Limited (UBL) undoubtedly had another productive day as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) limped to 192-8 after asked to bat first at the Southend Club Stadium here.
Shaharyar Ghani was the sole exception in an abject batting show as the let-hander compiled 80 off 160 balls with the aid of 11 boundaries after PIA lost half their side for 60 runs, including the wicket of skipper Kamran Sajid who was caught behind off the very first ball of the match.
Champions Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) posted 256-8 after Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) opted to bowl first at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.
Last season’s runners-up Habib Bank Limited made a startling recovery from 22-4 to amass 294-4 while nullifying Pakistan Television (PTV)’s advantage of bowling first at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Rizwan Akbar two wickets in six balls and his new-ball partner Mohammad Ali Bhutta sent back English-born opener Bilal Shafayat (5) as HBL lost three wickets without a run in the space of 12 deliveries.
Ali then got rid of Hasan Raza (5) before skipper Imran Farhat and Rameez Aziz staged a tremendous comeback for HBL with both batsmen completing unbeaten centuries during marathon 272-run partnership.
Imran, the Pakistan discard, hammered 21 fours and a brace of sixes in scoring 160 — the 31-year-old left-hander’s 28th first-class hundred — from 255 balls, while Rameez brought up his third ton as he ended the day on 106 (213 balls, 10 fours and one six).
Despite skipper Imran Nazir blasting a 90-ball 95 (13 fours and three sixes), Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) mustered a modest 208 all out after Kamran Akmal, the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) captain, decided to bowl first at Islamabad’s Diamond Club Ground.
The bankers, in reply, had made 102-3 by close of play.
