KARACHI, Nov 27: Almost forgotten Pakistan Test batsman Umar Amin showed his real prowess on Tuesday by helping himself to a career-best 236 not out as Port Qasim Authority (PQA) reached a mammoth 539-3 against Habib Bank Limited (HBL) on the second day of their President’s Trophy Grade-I National Cricket Championship match at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad.

The 23-year-old Umar, who played four consecutive Tests against Australia and England in the English summer of 2010 without much success, converted his overnight score of 97 into the first double century of his 66-match first-class career as PQA added 246 runs to their Monday’s tally of 293-2.

On the way, Umar got good support from fellow left-hander Daniyal Ahsan, who contributed 50 in the 130-run third wicket stand, and skipper Khalid Latif. Khalid, who was forced to retire hurt in the first over of the game, came back to hit 76 in the unbroken partnership of 238 with Umar.

Umar, whose marathon 330-ball knock has lasted 472 minutes and included 28 boundaries and a brace of sixes, comfortably surpassed his previous highest score of 153 — for Pakistan ‘A’ against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at Dambulla in August 2009 — as HBL bowlers, led by Pakistan spearhead Umar Gul (0-111 in 30.4 overs), struggled for the second consecutive day.

Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) declared their first innings at a massive 643-6 against United Bank Limited (UBL) at the Marghazar Cricket Ground in Islamabad with captain Imran Nazir becoming the third century-maker of the innings.

Imran, the temperamental Pakistan Twenty20 opener, smashed a career-best 185 off only 152 balls with the aid of 24 fours and two sixes after Haris Sohail, who resumed at 103, was dismissed for 152 (210 balls, 18 boundaries and four sixes). The fifth-wicket stand between Haris and Imran — who later added 158 for the sixth wicket with Zohaib Khan (55 not out) — yielded 190 runs. On the first day, opener Sharjeel Khan had made 141.

UBL’s forgetful season then got just worse as they stumbled to 147-8 in reply with discarded left-arm Pakistan paceman Mohammad Khalil picking up three wickets for 35 runs.

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) were heading for another defeat after Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) had obtained a 115-run advantage on the first innings at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.

The bankers again found part-time medium-pacers of Ali Khan too hot to handle as they reached stumps at 86-4 in their second innings. Ali, who bagged a career-best 5-11 on Monday, has so far taken three for 24.

Earlier, KRL were all out for 239 after starting the day at 80-2. Skipper Saeed Anwar Jr starred for the hosts with a 192-ball knock of 96 (six fours and four sixes). Paceman Mohammad Imran Khan and the slow left-arm armers of all-rounder Qaiser Abbas saw both men capture four wickets each.

Mohammad Rizwan scored a superb 136 — the 20-year-old Peshawar-born wicket-keeper/batsman’s second first-class hundred — to put Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in driving seat against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) at the National Cricket Ground in Islamabad.SNGPL, who were 213-6 with Rizwan batting on 77 at stumps on Monday, made 310 in their first innings with Rizwan hitting 18 fours during his 207-ball knock.

SBP’s response was pitiable as they crashed to 105-8 at close of play with young paceman Bilawal Bhatti grabbing four of the wickets for 26 runs.

Saad Nasim also reached a second century in first-class cricket by remaining undefeated with 101 (141 balls, 11 fours and one six) that played a big part in ensuring Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) seize complete control of their match against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at the Mirpur Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Responding to Wapda’s 240 all out, PIA stuttered to 94 all out inside 38 overs with ex-Test batsman Faisal Iqbal emerging as their top-scorer with 30. The damage was caused by the 33-year-ld slow left-armer Zulfiqar Babar who snared five wickets for 17 runs in 6.3 overs.

Wapda then extended their handy 146-run lead to 234 despite losing five second-innings wickets or just 88 runs.

Close of play scores on Tuesday (day two of four):
At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 539-3 in 137.4 overs (Umar Amin 236 not out, Khalid Latif 76 not out, Khurram Manzoor 74, Usman Tariq 64, Daniyal Ahsan 50) v HABIB BANK LIMITED.

At Marghazar Cricket Ground, Islamabad: ZARAI TARAQIATI BANK LIMITED 643-6 declared in 114.1 overs (Imran Nazir 185, Haris Sohail 152, Sharjeel Khan 143, Zohaib Khan 55 not out, Afaq Raheem 43, Babar Azam 35; Shabbir Ahmed 2-79, Atif Jabbar 2-160); UNITED BANK LIMITED 147-8 in 42 overs (Imran Ali 61; Mohammad Khalil 3-35, Junaid Zia 2-26, Junaid Nadir 2-40).

At National Cricket Ground, Islamabad: SUI NORTHERN GAS PIPELINES LIMITED 310 in 98.5 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 136; Rizwan Haider 4-87, Mohammad Ali 4-99); STATE BANK OF PAKISTAN 105-8 in 36 overs (Kashif Siddique 39; Bilawal Bhatti 4-26, Imran Khalid 2-16, Samiullah Khan Niazi 2-33).

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi: NATIONAL BANK OF PAKISTAN 124 in 44.4 overs (Anwar Hafeez 45 not out; Ali Khan 5-11, Mohammad Irfan 4-43) and 86-4 in 26.4 overs (Sami Aslam 30, Kamran Akmal 20 not out; Ali Khan 3-24); KHAN RESEARCH LABORATORIES 239 in 78.1 overs (Saeed Anwar Jr 96; Qaiser Abbas 4-40, Mohammad Imran Khan 4-77).

At Mirpur Cricket Stadium, Mirpur: WATER AND POWER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 240 in 65.5 overs (Saad Nasim 101 not out, Sohaib Maqsood 53; Anwar Ali 5-83, Janisar Khan 2-18, Aizaz Cheema 2-50) and 88-5 in 23.4 overs; PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 94 in 37.3 overs (Faisal Iqbal 30; Zulfiqar Babar 5-17, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 3-20, Junaid Khan 2-25).