LAHORE, Dec 9: While fine bowling by leg-spinner Dilawar Khan and paceman Fahad Masood guided Habib Bank Limited (HBL) into maintaining the top spot in pool ‘A’, by registering an innings and nine runs defeat over Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), pool ‘B’ headers Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) spot can be viewed as vulnerable on Sunday, the penultimate day of the ninth round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy championship.

While replying to a mammoth HBL first innings total of 419, SSGC resumed their first innings at 194-8 and were all out to face a follow-on at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi. Dilwar grabbed four wickets for 56 and Fahad earned three for 34.

In their second innings, SSGC again fell victim to Dilawar and Fahad, who finished with 4-44 and three for 38, respectively, to bundle them out for 170. Except for a century from Saeed Bin Nasir (128 not out), no other significant resistance was made by the SSGC. HBL now have 63 points from eight matches.

In pool ‘B’, leaders PIA, with 48 points, are heading to draw the match with runners-up Abbottabad.

Heroic efforts by Ghulam Mohammad who scored 125 and Riaz Kayl (65) at the Abbottabad Stadium, helped the home team give a perfect reply to PIA’s hefty total of 436. Abbottabad ended the day with a first innings total of 325-9 and with just a day remaining, one can only expect a draw.

With a difference of only three points to dethrone the leaders, Sui Northern Gas Pipe Line (SNGPL) needs just five wickets more to beat Karachi Blues.

SNGPL, who had hit a hard total of 624 with the help of two centuries and one double-ton in their first innings, forced Karachi Blues to follow-on after bowling them out for 228 at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi.

Tariq Haroon (63) was the key scorer for Karachi Blues after they resumed at 178-6. Imran Ali took four wickets for 37 and Test opener Mohammad Hafeez, who had also hit a century for SNGPL, returned a bowling figure of 3-64. In the second knock, Karachi Blues are in trouble again, facing an innings defeat with 180-5.

At the Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad, the home team was also forced to follow-on by Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) as their off-spinner Saeed Ajmal bagged five wickets for 40 runs.

Replying to KRL’s first innings’ mounting total of 465, Islamabad were all out for 254 after resuming at 164-4 with opener Raheel Majeed (107) becoming the lone big hurdle for KRL. With 52-1, Islamabad at close of play were in need of another 159 runs in order to avert an innings defeat.

The match between Sialkot and Faisalabad at the Sheikhupura Stadium is likely to have a thrilling finish. While Sialkot require 200 runs, Faisalabad need 10 wickets on the final day to win the low-scoring encounter.Sialkot, who had conceded a 32-run lead in the first innings, set a winning target of 248 after bowling out Faisalabad for 215 in the second knock. At the stumps, Sialkot were 45 for no loss.

Other matches in round nine are likely to end in a draw.

Summarised scores:

Abbottabad Stadium, Abbottabad

PIA (1st innings) 436. ABBOTTABAD (1st innings) 325-9 (Ghulam Mohammad 125, Riaz Kayl 65, Adnan Raees 44, Fawad Khan 47; Aizaz Bin Ilyas 3-17, Tahir Khan 3-52).

UBL Sports Complex, Karachi

HBL win by an innings and nine runs.

HBL (1st innings) 419. SSGS (1st innings) 240 (Saeed Bin Nasir 128 not out; Dilawar Khan 4-56, Fahad Masood 3-34). And 170 (Dilawar Khan 4-44, Fahad Masood 3-38).

Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi

SNGPL (1st innings) 624-5 decd. KARACHI BLUES (1st innings) 228 (mansoor Khan 63, Sharjeel Ashraf 44; Mohammad Hafeez 3-67, Imran Ali 4-37) And after follow-on 180-5 (Mansoor Khan 101 not out; Mohammad Hafeez 3-62).

Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad

KRL (1st innings) 465. ISLAMABAD (1st innings) 254 (Raheel Majeed 107; Saeed Ajmal 5-40) And after follow-on 52-1.

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

LAHORE RAVI (1st innings) 397. MULTAN (1st innings) 345 (Rameez Alam 131, Usman Tariq 69, Naved yasin 55; Azam Khan 4-58, Junaid Zia 3-78).

Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad

NBP (1st innings) 477. And 33-3. HYDERBAD (1st innings) 334 (Azeem Ghumman 109, Faisal Athar 94; Wahab Riaz 4-60).

Sheikhupura Stadium

FAISALABAD (1st innings) 193. And 215 (Ejaz Ahmed 91; Nayyar Abbas 5-44, Mohamamd Imran 3-62). SIALKOT (1ST innings) 161. And 45 for no loss.

KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi

QUETTA (1st innings) 173. And 25 for no loss. RAWALPINDI (1st innings) 390-8 (Mohammad Naved 98, Awais Zia 60, Yasir Ali 53, Babar Naeem 42; Sana Ullah 3-92, Sana-ul-Haq Junior 3-101).

National Stadium, Karachi

KARACHI WHITES (1st innings) 315. And 94-2 (Khalid Latif 63 not out). WAPDAW (1st innings) 425.

Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar

ZTBL (1st innings) 398 (Inam-ul-Haq 106, Adnan Raza 64, Wajahatullah Wasti 50; Rahatullah 4-88, Bilal Khan 3-134). PESHAWAR (1st innings) 44-2.