LAHORE, Feb 25: National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Sialkot were on to perfect starts as the last round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship kicked off across the country on Wednesday.

Being main contenders, both teams are facing a must-win situation. NBP, leading Pool ‘A’ with 48 points, was served well by half centuries from Umer Ameen (84, 12 fours, 172 balls), Naumanullah (55, eight fours, 127 balls) and Rashid Riaz (51) to pile up 248 for four in 83 overs against Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines (SNGPL) at the Sports Stadium in Sargodha.

The Pool ‘B’ leaders Sialkot earned a 39-run lead on the first innings against Faisalabad, finishing the day at 161-3 in 36 overs in response to their rival’s paltry total of 122.

Batting first, Faisalabad’s innings lasted just 44.2 overs as Sarmad Anwar (3-27), Bilawal Bhatti (3-44) and Nayyar Abbas (3-23) bowled well.

Unbeaten Haris Sohail (61, not out, 11 fours) and Bilal Azmat (44 not out, seven fours) strengthened Sialkot, which had made an unstable start of 59-3, with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 102.

Islamabad, also in the running for the final in case of Sialkot’s defeat, could not stop Lahore Ravi from taking a fine start of 284-5 in 32.1 at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad. An unbeaten century by Ashraf Ali (111, 18 fours, 173 balls) and good batting by Sohail Ahmed (102) for Lahore Ravi, resulted in all drawn games in the nine matches of the pool.

Pool ‘A’ runners-up Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) also desiring NBP’s defeat and own victory failed to make a fine start as all were out for 208 in 63.2 overs against the lowly-rated Customs at the Mirpur Khas Stadium. Only Ali Naqvi (64) was the major scorer. Customs, by close of play, were 67-3, with Sohail Tanvir claiming all the wickets.

The banned for Pakistan Test opener Imran Farhat hit a fine century for Habib Bank Limited (HBL) against Wapda at the Sheikhupura Stadium.

Imran cracked 100 runs exactly with 16 fours and one six off 141 balls to save HBL from embarrassment as all were out for 202 in 65.4 overs. Imran, who in his first match of the competition in the last round, earned a duck and 27, batted with great authority to score a century.

Wapda were 29-1 by close of play.

A fine century by Fahad Iqbal (112 not out, 25 fours, three sixes, 218 balls) and Sarfraz Ahmed (65, nine furs) helped PIA earn a total of 291-7, 83 overs against ZTBL at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

Abid Ali struck a century (114, 16 fours, 180 balls) and Sheraq Butt made 96 (10 fours, two sixes, 198 balls) to help Lahore Shalimar make a solid start of 270 for four wickets in 83 overs against Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) at LCCA ground.

A century from Fawad Khan (111, 19 fours, one six, 167 balls) and Ghulam Mohammad (64, 11 fours, 146 balls) helped Abbottabad seize a total of 299 for five against Multan at Gymkhana Ground, Okara.

Wickets fell like nine pins as both Peshawar and Rawalpindi’s first innings completed on the first day at the Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar.

Batting first Peshawar were all out for 156 with Riaz Afridi (66) as the main scorer. Rizwan Akbar took four wickets for 26. In reply, Rawalpindi also lost all 10 wickets for 157 in 31 overs to gain a one-run lead. While Waqar Ahmed claimed five wickets for 80, Riaz Afridi also excelled with the leather, taking five wickets for 31.

At Nawabshah Stadium, Hyderabad were 277 for seven in 84.1 overs against Karachi Blues with Nasrullah Memon (70) and Hanif Malik (44) as the key scorers.

Summarised scores:

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot.

Faisalabad 122, 44.2 overs. Sialkot 161-3, 36 overs (Haris Sohail 61 not out, Bilal Azmat 44 not out).

At Sports Stadium, Sargodha.

NBP 248-4, 83 overs (Umer Ameen 89, Naumanullah 55, Nasir Jamshed 51) vs SNGPL.

At Sheikhupura Stadium.

HBL 202, 65.4 overs (Imran Farhat 100). Wapda 29-1.

At Diamond Club, Islamabad.

Lahore Ravi 284-5, 32.1 overs (Ashraf Ali 111, Sohail Ahmed 102) vs

Islamabad.

At Iqbal Stadium, Faialabad.

PIA 291-7, 83 overs (Fahad Iqbal 112, Sarfraz Ahmed 65) vs ZTBL.

At LCCA ground.

Lahore Shalimar 270-4, 83 overs (Abid Ali 114, Sheraz Butt 96) vs SSGC.

At Gymkhana ground,Okara.

Abbottabad 299-5, 83 overs (Fawad Khan 111, Ghulam Mohammad 64, Mohammad Kashif 42) vs Multan.

At Mirpur Khas Stadium.

KRL 208, 63.2 overs (Ali Naqi 64; Farhan Ayub 5-86).

Customs 67-3 (Sohail Tanvir 3-41).

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar.

Peshawar 156 (Riaz Afridi 66; Rizwan Akbar 4-26).

Rawalpindi 157 in 31 overs (Waqar Ahmed 5-80, Riaz Afridi 4-31).

At Nawabshah Stadium.

Hyderabad 277-7, 84.1 overs (Nasrullah Memon 70, Hanif Malik 44) vs Karachi Blues.