KARACHI, Dec 7: Paceman Ataullah excelled with a 10-wicket bag as National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) cruised to a 10-wicket victory over United Bank Limited (UBL) at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad to move, albeit temporarily, to the top of President’s Trophy group standings on Saturday.

The right-arm bowler captured his maiden five-for as he bagged 6-64 in UBL’s total of 160 in the second innings. Discarded Pakistan all-rounder Hammad Azam chipped in with three for 43.

Needing just five, NBP got them in three overs to chalk up their third win in four matches and took their tally of points to 30.

But Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), who led the standings before the current round with 28, will have the chance to reclaim their top position after Pakistan Television (PTV) stumbled to 48-3 in pursuit of a 326-run target at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

SNGPL declared their second innings at 225-1 with their skipper Taufiq Umar reminding the national selectors that he is far from being considered as a ‘discard’. The left-hander opener stuck an unbeaten 128 (172 balls, 17 boundaries) while sharing a first-innings partnership of 199 with Azeem Ghumman (70 off 153 balls, 10 fours).

Earlier in the day, ex-international Samiullah Khan Niazi finished with excellent figures of 6-34 with his left-arm seamers to send PTV crashing to 158 all out.Port Qasim Authority (PQA) earned a substantial 194-run lead after piling up 424 in their first innings against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot.

Former Test left-hander Asim Kamal completed his 10th first-class century by reaching an undefeated 100 (164 balls, 12 fours and one six). Asim and Mohammad Talha (56 off 67 balls, two boundaries) added exactly 100 for the eighth wicket.

ZTBL then reached 230-4 in their second innings with the 21-year-old right-hander Haseeb-ur-Rehman at the crease on 95 (126 balls, 13 boundaries).

Despite a fighting knock of 94 (117 balls, 15 fours) from Test reject Faisal Iqbal, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were struggling at 262-8 in response to Khan Research Laboratories (KRL)’s 419-9 declared at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) were on top after State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) stuttered to 165-5 in their second innings at the National Cricket Ground in Islamabad.

Wapda, earlier, took a first-innings lead of 128 by totalling 300.

Close of play scores and result on Saturday (day three of four):

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: ZARAI TARAQIATI BANK LIMITED 230 in 49.1 overs (Luqman Butt 65, Yasir Hameed 38; Mohammad Talha 6-69, Mohammad Sami 2-50) and 223-4 in 43.5 overs (Haseeb-ur-Rehman 95, Shahid Yousuf 43; Abdur Rauf 2-79); PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 424 in 101 overs (Asim Kamal 100 not out, Khalid Latif 86, Mohammad Talha 56, Daniyal Ahsan 35, Mohammad Waqas 34; Usman Khan Shinwari 3-114, Haseeb-ur-Rehman 2-23, Zohaib Khan 2-69, Imran Khan 2-113).

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: SUI NORTHERN GAS PIPELINES LIMITED 258 in 96.5 overs (Taufiq Umar 63, Adnan Akmal 53, Mohammad Rizwan 50, Naeemuddin 47; Yasim Murtaza 5-43, Zohaib Ahmed 4-40) and 225-1 declared in 51 overs (Taufiq Umar 128 not out, Azeem Ghumman 70); PAKISTAN TELEVISION 158 in 63.5 overs (Akbar Badshah 33; Samiullah Khan Niazi 6-34, Yasir Shah 2-32, Imran Ali 2-52) and 48-3 in 13 overs (Imran Ali 2-18).

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi: KHAN RESEARCH LABORATORIES 419-9 declared in 127.1 overs (Saeed Anwar Jr 197, Ali Khan 71, Shoaib Ahmed Minhas 47, Usman Salahuddin 41; Tahir Khan 4-69, Aizaz Cheema 2-93, Jamshed Ahmed 2-96); PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 262-8 in 74 overs (Faisal Iqbal 94, Shaharyar Ghani 46, Janisar khan 40; Rahat Ali 3-57, Nayyar Abbas 2-24, Umaid Asif 2-46).

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: National Bank of Pakistan beat United Bank Limited by 10 wickets.

UNITED BANK LIMITED 129 in 43.3 overs (Mohammad Irshad 36 not out; Ataullah 4-58, Ahmed Jamal 3-31, Hammad Azam 2-27) and 160 in 49.4 overs (Mohammad Wajihuddin 35, Mohammad Rameez 32; Ataullah 6-64, Hammad Azam 3-43); NATIONAL BANK OF PAKISTAN 285 in 79.3 overs (Fawad Alam 103, Hammad Azam 36; Atif Maqbool 5-88, Mohammad Irshad 3-64) and 5-0 in 3 overs.

At National Cricket Ground, Islamabad: STATE BANK OF PAKISTAN 172 in 57.3 overs (Rizwan Haider 39; Azhar Attari 5-56, Mohammad Haseeb 4-41) and 165-5 in 57 overs (Rameez Raja 68; Mohammad Haseeb 2-44); WATER AND POWER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 300 in 95 overs (Aamir Sajjad 76, Riffatullah Mohmand 50, Mohammad Ayub Dogar 34; Rizwan Haider 4-79, Tabish Khan 3-74).

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