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ISLAMABAD: Markhor IT Solutions and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) struggled against Kingsmen Academy and Pakistan Television (PTV) respectively in an action packed day three of President’s Trophy Grade-I on Monday.
Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) decided not to impose follow-on over Ghani, while State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) made a strong comeback against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
At Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar, KRL ended the day with an emphatic 405-run second innings lead over Ghani with Fakhar Zaman (76, 52b, 6x4s, 3x6s) and Shahzaib Khan (76 not out, 82b, 7x4s, 1x6) at the crease having stitched an unbeaten 149-run stand.
Earlier, Ghani resumed from their overnight score of 200-5 in 48 overs and managed 306 all out in 81.5 overs as Haseebullah (99, 121b, 12x4s) was bowled by Iftikhar Ahmed, denying him a fifth first-class century. Ali Razzaq contributed 52 off 102 balls hitting seven fours.
KRL’s Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up 4-61 in 14.5 overs on his comeback to domestic red-ball cricket. He was supported by Arshad Iqbal and Iftikhar who snared two wickets each. At the Abbottabad Stadium, MIT Solutions responded well to the follow-on call of Kingsmen Academy by posting 203 runs on the board for the loss of five wickets in 41 overs with only 32 runs remaining in arrears. Opening batter Mohammad Farooq struck a run-a-ball 67 hitting five fours to add much-needed impetus to MIT’s innings.
Earlier, left-arm pacer Akif Javed picked up six for 79 in 18.5 overs to help his team dismiss MIT Solutions for 330 in 76.5 overs after they had resumed from overnight score of 179-3 in 31 overs. Akif’s maiden first-class five-for resulted in MIT batters throwing away their starts and it also included the prized wicket of first innings centurion Farooq.
At Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Haris Rauf registered his third first-class five-for by returning figures of 13-3-34-5 as PTV dismissed OGDCL for 204 to gain a 196-run first innings lead. Left-arm wrist-spinner Faisal Akram supported Haris with 4-51 in 19 overs.
Following-on, OGDCL lost three wickets in 19 overs with just 64 runs on the board and another 132 runs in deficit. At the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, SBP’s left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti claimed his 30th first-class five-for with figures of 26-11-40-6 as they restricted SNGPL to 188 all out in 68.1 overs after resuming the day from 161-5.
With only 30 runs in arrears, SBP opening batters laid the marker with a stellar 186-run opening stand as Hasan Raza fell right after scoring his eighth first-class century (103, 178b, 10x4s, 1x6). His opening partner Faham-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 78 off 168 balls at stumps with SBP 160 runs ahead.
Scores in brief:
Khan Research Laboratories v Ghani at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar
KRL lead by 405 runs with nine wickets remaining in second innings
KRL 547-9, 122.4 overs (Imran Rafiq 129, Fakhar Zaman 128, Asim Ali Nasir 87, Shaheen Shah Afridi 47, Mohammad Junaid 43, Shahzaib Khan 36, Abdul Faseeh 26, Iftikhar Ahmed 23; Ghulam Haider 4-119, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 3-129) and 164-1, 24 overs (Fakhar Zaman 76 not out, Shahzaib Khan 76 not out)
hani 306 all out, 81.5 overs (Haseebullah 99, Sharjeel Khan 59, Ali Razzaq 52, Mirza Tahir Baig 34; Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-61, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-62, Arshad Iqbal 2-75)
Markhor IT Solutions v Kingsmen Academy at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium
MIT Solutions trail by 32 runs following-on with five wickets remaining
Kingsmen Academy 565-7, 131.1 overs (Salman Ali Agha 300 not out, Mohammad Suleman 115, Mohammad Shayan 34, Azan Tariq 31, Mohammad Huraira 30, Mohammad Arshad 27; Salman Aslam 2-70)
MIT Solutions 330 all out, 76.5 overs (Mohammad Farooq 117, Bismillah Khan 39, Atiq-ur-Rehman 36, Muhammad Riazullah 30, Samama Riaz 23.
