LAHORE: The fourth round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I 2025-26 started in Karachi with four games taking place at KCCA Stadium, SBP Sports Complex, NBP Sports Complex and National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
At the KCCA Stadium, Sahir Associates got through 92.1 overs scoring 245-8 against Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as half-centuries from Mohammad Faiq and Asim Ali Nasir (59, 115b, 5x4s) lifted them from 32-2 in 13.1 overs.
OGDCL’s Test spinner Asif Afridi registered his 18th first-class five-wicket haul as he returned figures of 33.1-5-72-5.
Faiq fell seven runs short of his maiden first-class century as his 188-ball 93 comprising seven fours ended in the 76th over. He had joined skipper Asim at the fall of second wicket. The duo stitched 97 runs for the third wicket as Asim also went top of the run-scoring charts in the tournament.
Mohammad Saleem remained unbeaten for 40 off 131 balls hitting one four, while Razaullah contributed 29 off 40 balls inclusive of a solitary boundary. State Bank of Pakistan were bundled out for 106 in 38.2 overs against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) as Mohammad Hamza (13-4-17-4), Ahmed Bashir (16.2-4-39-3) and Abdul Wahid (9-1-49-3) shared all 10 wickets among them at the SBP Sports Complex.
Muhammad Ghazi Ghori top-scored with a 62-ball 40 hitting six fours, Kashif Bhatti (16, 19b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Niaz Khan (11, 20b, 1x4) were the only other SBP batters to enter double figures.
In turn, KRL closed the day with 135-3 in 38 overs with Waqar Ahmed unbeaten on 57 off 87 balls hitting seven fours and Imran Rafiq not out on 25 off 61 balls with the help of three fours. Opening batter Saad Baig fell for a 51-ball 29 smashing five fours.
For SBP, Rameez Aziz picked up two for 26 in his five overs. Sui Norther Gas Pipelines Limited’s (SNGPL) Shehzad Gul continued his red-hot form as he picked four for 40 off 16.2 overs, on the back of his match haul of 11 wickets in third round, to help his team dismiss Pakistan Television (PTV) for 166 in 66.2 overs at the National Bank Stadium.
In reply, SNGPL were 58-3 in 18 overs as they lost three quick wickets after they were 23 for no loss with Ali Usman removing Azan Awais for seven and Saad Khan for a duck, while Ali Zaryab was pinned leg-before by Israr Hussain.
At the UBL Sports Complex, Ghani Glass were bundled out for 142 in 46.4 overs against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) as Ali Razzaq top-scored with 64 not out off 108 balls hitting nine fours and two sixes.
Tayyab Tahir’s 33 kept one end safe at one point as wickets fell around him. For WAPDA, Naqeebullah picked up three wickets, while Mujtaba Khan, Khalid Usman and Mohammad Zeeshan dismissed two batters each.
WAPDA closed the day 13 runs behind Ghani Glass as they posted 129-4 in 33 overs with the help of Ayaz Tasawar’s unbeaten 42 off 60 balls, which he accumulated striking eight fours and one six. Opening batter Muhammad Akhlaq fell after scoring 38 off 45 balls hitting four fours and two sixes.
