LAHORE, Nov 30: While Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) kept alive their semi-final prospects with a sensational two-run win against over a demoralised National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) outfit in the Faysal Bank T20 Cup for Departments, the two remaining semi-finalists will be decided on Sunday.

Thus far, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from Group ‘A’ and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) from Group ‘B’ have qualified for the last-four stage after maintaining a clean sheet on Friday.

In the most exciting finishing of the tournament so far, NBP capitulated to their fourth successive defeat on Saturday when KRL edged past them at the LCCA Ground.

NBP needed eight runs from the final over to overhaul KRL’s total of 127 with a well-set Fawad Alam and stand-in skipper Hammad Azam at the crease. But paceman Yasir Ali conceded just five runs as NBP were restricted to NBP to 125-5.

Yasir, in the process, bowled Hammad for 20 (16 balls, two sixes) while Fawad remained unbeaten for a 28-ball 20 that didn’t feature a single hit to the fence.

Umar Waheed (32 off 20 balls, six fours) was the top-scorer, while opener Amin-ur-Rehman made a 27-ball 25 with four fours.

Earlier, KRL, put in to bat, posted a modest 127-6 with veteran skipper Saeed Anwar emerging as the top scorer striking a 38-ball 36, studded with three fours and one six. Fellow left-hander Naved Yasin (29 off 27 balls, four boundaries) was the other key scorer.

Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik each scored superb half-centuries to guide PIA to their fourth consecutive win with a six-wicket defeat of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) at the LCCA Ground.

Chasing 155, PIA achieved their target in 19.2 overs by totalling 158-4 in 19.2 overs as Shoaib struck an unbeaten 61 off 44 deliveries with the help of seven fours and one six.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Sarfraz, again excelled in the opening role, by striking a 54-ball 74 laced with 11 boundaries. Sarfraz and Shoaib put on 130 for the third wicket stand after PIA lost two wickets for 16 runs.

Earlier, SBP thrived on good knocks from Rameez Raja (46 off 53 balls, two fours and one six) and captain Kashif Siddique (30 off 13 balls, five fours and one six) to collect 154-5. Discarded Pakistan seamer Aizaz Cheema claimed 2-19.

Slow left-armer Imran Khalid grabbed three quick wickets in two overs to help Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) trounce Water and Power Development Authority by eight wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Imran conceded just five runs to claim three wickets as Wapda were skittled out for just 64 in 17.1 overs. Medium-pacers Imran Ali (2-4) and Mohammad Farman (2-16) and leg-spinner Yasir Shah (2-14) all bowled economically.

SNGPL got the runs in 9.3 overs while losing skipper Taufiq Umar (5) and Mohammad Rizwan (25 off 16 balls, five fours).

ZTBL registered their fourth win on the trot when they outclassed Port Qasim Authority (PQA) by eight wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Sharjeel Khan (23 off 12 balls, two sixes and two fours) and Imran Nazir (27 off 26, four fours ad one six) made light work of the 115-run chase by sharing an opening partnership of 51 in 5.1 overs.

It was then left to Yasir Hameed (34 off 40 balls, two fours and one six) and Haris Sohail (28 off 32, two fours and one six) to see ZTBL home.

Earlier, PQA managed just 114-8 despite tail-ender Mohammad Talha blasting 40 off 18 balls with three fours and two sixes. Mohammad Waqas (27 off 39 balls, one four) and Khurram Manzoor (20 off 26, one four) were the only other prominent scorers for PQA.

In the day’s last fixture, United Bank Limited (UBL) severely dented Pakistan Television (PTV)’s semi-final hopes with a convincing 38-run win at the Gaddafi Stadium.

UBL made 166-7 after being asked to bat first. Abid Ali (26 off 31 balls, two fours) and Ahsan Ali (29 off 22, five boundaries) added 51 for the first wicket before skipper Tariq Haroon bludgeoned three sixes and as many fours in a quickfire 48 off 25 balls.

PTV captain Zohaib Ahmed took three wickets with his slow left-armers but gave away 46 runs in four overs.

PTV slumped to 29-4 before partially recovering to finish at 128-8. Zeeshan Mushtaq (41 off 37 balls, five fours and one six) and Zohaib (52 off 46, three fours and one six) were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

Paceman Asif Raza ended up with career-best figures of four for 16 in fur overs, while Prince Abbas dismissed Fahad-ul-Haq and Nawaz Ahmed for ducks in taking two for 27.

Saturday’s results:

Group ‘A’:

At LCCA Ground: Khan Research Laboratories beat National Bank of Pakistan by two runs.

KHAN RESEARCH LABORATORIES 127-6 in 20 overs (Saeed Anwar Jr 36, Naved Yasin 29; Usman Qadir 2-17, Ataullah 2-42); NATIONAL BANK OF PAKISTAN 125-5 in 20 overs (Umar Waheed 32, Amin-ur-Rehman 25, Fawad Alam 20 not out).

At LCCA Ground: Pakistan International Airlines beat State Bank of Pakistan by six wickets.

STATE BANK OF PAKISTAN 154-5 in 20 overs (Rameez Raja 46, Kashif Siddique 30, Usman Saeed 25; Aizaz Cheema 2-19); PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 158-4 in 19.2 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 74, Shoaib Malik 61).

At Gaddafi Stadium: United Bank Limited beat Pakistan Television by 38 runs.

UNITED BANK LIMITED 166-7 in 20 overs (Tariq Haroon 48, Ahsan Ali 29, Abid Ali 26; Zohaib Ahmed 3-46); PAKISTAN TELEVISION 128-8 in 20 overs (Zohaib Ahmed 52 not out, Zeeshan Mushtaq 41; Asif Raza 4-16, Prince Abbas 2-27).

Group ‘B’:

At Gaddafi Stadium: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited beat Water and Power Development Authority by eight wickets.

WATER AND POWER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 64 in 17.1 overs (Ayaz Tasawwar 19; Imran Khalid 3-5, Imran Ali 2-4, Yasir Shah 2-14, Mohammad Farman 2-16); SUI NORTHERN GAS PIPELINES LIMITED 66-2 in 9.3 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 25, Ali Waqas 17 not out, Khurram Shehzad 17 not out; Mohammad Haseeb 2-32).

At Gaddafi Stadium: Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited beat Port Qasim Authority by eight wickets.

PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 114-8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Talha 40 not out, Mohammad Waqas 27, Khurram Manzoor 20; Junaid Zia 2-24); ZARAI TARAQIATI BANK LIMITED 117-2 in 18.2 overs (Yasir Hameed 34 not out, Haris Sohail 28 not out, Imran Nazir 27, Sharjeel Khan 23; Azam Hussain 2-16).

Sunday’s fixtures:

NBP v SBP (Gaddafi Stadium, 9:30am); PIA v UBL (LCCA Ground, 9:30am); KRL v PTV (LCCA Ground, 1:15pm); PQA v WAPDA (Gaddafi Stadium, 1;15pm); HBL v SNGPL (Gaddafi Stadium, 5:00pm).