SBP’s Hasan (204*), Abdullah (168*) register unbeaten 378-run opening stand against Ghani

State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) opening duo Hasan Raza and Abdullah Fazal dominated the second day of the Al Batal Presents ABS Developers President’s Trophy Grade-I with an unscathed 378-run opening partnership against Ghani at National Ground in Islamabad on Friday. 

Only 49 overs of play was possible in Abbottabad between Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), while Markhor IT Solutions had a field day against the struggling Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. Kingsmen Academy responded well to Pakistan Television with the bat at Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad. 

At National Ground, SBP had collected 378 runs off 68 overs in their first innings after Ghani were bowled out for 322 in 84.1 overs earlier in the day. 

SBP’s opening batters’ determined display frustrated the Ghani’s bowling attack comprising two Test pacers in Khurram Shahzad and Ubaid Shah and helped them gain a 56-run first innings lead with all wickets intact. 

Left-handed Hasan, who struck the fastest first-class double ton in Pakistan’s domestic cricket off 190 balls, surpassed his previous best score of  174 in his 203-ball 204-run knock hitting 28 fours and two sixes. Meanwhile, Abdullah, who was playing his first competitive red-ball game since May, registered his fifth first-class century (168 not out, 207b, 19x4s, 4x6s) in his outing. 

Earlier, Ghani began from overnight score of 263-6 in 72 overs and were bowled out for 322 in 84.1 overs with Ali Razzaq (101, 129b, 13x4s, 3x6s) scoring his second first-class century. For SBP, Arshadullah and Shahid Aziz picked up three wickets each. 

At Abbottabad Stadium, KRL were 377-8 in 109 overs at close with no.6 batter Sarmad Bhatti unbeaten on 122 off 198 balls with the help of 21 fours. He kept the KRL innings intact by stitching a 145-run partnership with Faheem Ashraf (83, 100b, 16x4s) as the two joined forces at 202-6 after they were 202-5 in 60 overs overnight. Sarmad was 48 not out at start of the day. 

OGDCL’s Mohammad Hasnain picked up 3-79 in 22 overs, while Razaullah dismissed two batters. 

At Imran Khan Stadium, SNGPL were reeling at stumps with 32 runs on the board, a further first innings deficit of 402 runs and three batters back in the hut. MIT’s pacer Mohammad Ismail removed Sameer Minhas and Abdullah Shafique, while Mohammad Imran Jnr dismissed Azan Awais. 

Earlier in the day, MIT declared their innings at 434-9 in 126.5 overs after resuming from overnight score of 258-3 in 79 overs. Centurion Atiq-ur-Rehman fell for 138 – adding just two runs to his score on day two, while his Syed Awad Naqvi’s 258-ball 78-run knock was ended by Sajid Khan. The two had put on a 221-run stand for the fourth wicket.

MIT’s lower order batters contributed well with the bat to stretch the score beyond the 400-run mark as Abuzar Tariq (35, 71b, 3x4s), Ismail (35, 46b, 6x4s), Samama Riaz (33, 25b, 5x4s, 1x6) , skipper Khalid Usman (33 not out, 54b, 3x4s, 1x6) and Aamir Jamal (15, 47b) all got starts. 

For SNGPL, Muhammad Imran (Randhawa) was the standout bowler with figures of 25-7-54-3, Naseem Shah returned figures of 19-6-57-2 and Mohammad Azab 24-3-89-2. 

At Diamond Ground, Kingsmen Academy’s reply to PTV’s first innings total of 355 was led by Test batter Mohammad Huraira, who struck 133 not out with the help of 20 fours. Kingsmen were 237-2 in 63 overs after Huraira’s 12th first-class ton and his second-wicket alliance of 186 runs with Mohammad Suleman (71, 122b, 4x4s, 3x6s). 

Test pacer Kashif Ali had claimed the early wicket of previous round’s centurion and Kingsmen skipper Mohammad Tayyab Arif (24, 23b, 3x4s) before giving his team a late breakthrough with the scalp of Suleman. Saud Shakeel saw off 11 balls and was yet to get off the mark when stumps were drawn.  

Scores in brief – 3rd round – Day 2 Stumps

Match 9 – State Bank of Pakistan v Ghani at National Ground, Islamabad 

SBP lead by 56 runs with 10 wickets remaining in first innings

Ghani 322 all out, 84.1 overs (Ali Razzaq 101, Mirza Tahir Baig 67, Sharjeel Khan 56, Haseebullah 29, Hussain Talat 27; Arshadullah 3-55, Shahid Aziz 3-60, 2-53)  

SBP 378-0, 68 overs (Hasan Raza 204 not out, Abdullah Fazal 168 not out) 

Match 10 – Khan Research Laboratories v Oil and Gas Development Company Limited v Khan Research Laboratories at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium 

KRL 377-8, 109 overs (Sarmad Bhatti 122 not out, Faheem Ashraf 83, Abdul Faseeh 36, Iftikhar Ahmed 29, Shahzaib Khan 27, Mohammad Faiq 21; Mohammad Hasnain 3-79, Razaullah 2-103) 

Match 11 – Markhor IT Solutions v Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium Peshawar

SNGPL trail by 402 runs with seven wickets remaining in first innings 

MIT Solutions 434-9 dec, 126.5 overs (Atiq-ur-Rehman 138, Syed Awad Naqvi 78, Mohammad Ismail 35, Abuzar Tariq 35, Samama Riaz 33, Khalid Usman 33 not out; Muhammad Imran 3-54, Naseem Shah 2-57, Mohammad Azab 2-89)

SNGPL 32-3, 9.5 overs (Azan Awais 14; Mohammad Ismail 2-4) 

Match 12 – Pakistan Television v Kingsmen Academy at Diamond Cricket Ground 

Kingsmen Academy trail by 118 runs with eight wickets remaining in first innings 

PTV 355 all out, 73.3 overs (Muhammad Shahzad 114, Sharoon Siraj 72, Mohammad Taha 43, Musa Khan 40, Taimur Khan 31; Muhammad Ilyas 5-129, Muhammad Umar 2-60, Shoaib Afridi 2-92) 

Kingsmen Academy 237-2, 63 overs (Mohammad Huraira 133 not out, Mohammad Suleman 71, Mohammad Tayyab Arif 24; Kashif Ali 2-57)