LAHORE, Jan 26: A defiant captain’s knock by Zulqarnain Haider and equally responsible batting by Muzaffar Mehboob helped Lahore Shalimar recover to reach 219-6 against the star-studded Habib Bank side on first day of the Quaid-i-Azam National Cricket Championship’s sixth-round match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Zulqarnain was unbeaten with 61, which includes 11 fours while Muzaffar hit 54 with the aid of seven boundaries and two sixes before was trapped leg-before-wicket by Shahid Afridi.

Fine batting by Naveed Qureshi and Fawad Hussain shared a partnership of 168 to guide Rawalpindi to 250 for six against Lahore Ravi at the LCCA Ground.

Naveed slammed a 167-ball 105 with 14 boundaries and one six while Fawad is still at the crease with 85, a knock that includes 14 fours. The pair came to the crease with the visitors tottering at 75-5.

Defending champions SNGPL were in trouble at 134 for six against Pakistan Customs at the Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala.

At one stage, SNGPL were 59-5, but Azhar Shafiq (55) and Misbah-ul-Haq (33) added some respectability to the total.

Pool ‘B’ leaders Sialkot made 230-7 against Multan in Okara with opener Naeemuddin scoring 65.

Meanwhile, only 14.3 overs’ play was possible in the game between Faisalabad and Islamabad at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. In that time, Faisalabad had reached 51-4.

But there was no play at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot where Pool ‘A’ leaders PIA were due to play Wapda.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Karachi: Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat captured all seven wickets to fall on an eventful opening day of the match between KRL and SSGC at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.

After being bowled out for a modest first-innings score of 191, KRL hit back to have SSGC reeling at 57-7 with Yasir finishing the day with remarkable figures of seven for 19 in 8.4 overs.

Opener Murtaza Majeed struck 11 boundaries in making 67 to help Karachi Whites collect 228-8 against ZTBL at the National Stadium.

A fine century from Faisal Athar (12&0 and opener Azeem Ghumman’s 91 added 219 for the unbroken third-wicket stand to help hosts Hyderabad score 232-2 against Abbottabad at the Niaz Stadium. T

Scores on Monday (day one of four):

Group ‘A’:

At National Stadium, Karachi: KARACHI WHITES 228-8 in 83 overs (Murtaza Majeed 67) v ZTBL.

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: LAHORE SHALIMAR 219-6 in 76 overs (Zulqarnain Haider 61 not out, Muzaffar Mahboob 54) v HABIB BANK.

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi: KRL 191 in 48 overs (Shahzad Butt 4-47); SSGC 57-7 in 17.4 overs (Yasir Arafat 7-19).

At Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala: SNGPL 134-6 in 43.5 overs (Azhar Shafiq 55) v PAKISTAN CUSTOMS.At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: PIA v WAPDA – no play because of rain.

Group ‘B’:

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: RAWALPINDI 250-6 in 71 overs (Naveed Qureshi 105, Fawad Hussain 85 not out) v LAHORE RAVI.

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: HYDERABAD 232-2 in 85 overs (Faisal Athar 127 not out, Azeem Ghumman 91 not out) v ABBOTTABAD.

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: FAISALABAD 51-4 in 14.3 overs v ISLAMABAD.

At Gymkhana Club Ground, Okara: SIALKOT 230-7 in 64 overs (Naeemuddin 65) v MULTAN.