KARACHI: As many as 16 wickets fell on the first day of the match between Ghani Glass and Wapda at the State Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex as the sixth round of the President’s Trophy started at three venues across Karachi on Monday.

After being put in to bat first, Wapda managed to post 212 all out in 60.1 overs. Ayaz Tasawar top-scored with a 115-ball 81 laced with eight fours and four sixes.

For Ghani Glass, fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar bagged five wickets for 71 while Mohammad Rameez Jr and Ghulam Mudassar took three and two wickets, respectively.

In reply, Ghani Glass batters struggled badly as their side slumped to 45 for six in 19.4 overs when stumps were draw for the day. For Wapda, Ali Shafique took four wickets for 10 in 7.4 overs.

Meanwhile, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) took command in their match against the Higher Education Commission (HEC) at the National Bank Stadium.

After electing to bat first, the HEC were sent packing for 95 in 38.4 overs. Batting at number eight, Mohammad Junaid (27 not out off 55 balls) was the only player with some respectable contribution.

Test cricketer Salman Ali representing the SBP bagged five wickets for 39 in 14 overs while leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood and left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti shared five wickets between them.

In reply, SBP on the back of an unbeaten century by opening batter Umar Amin (110 not out off 162 balls, 17 fours) and half-century by Rameez Aziz (53 not out of 90, seven fours) had reached 188 for three in 55 overs by the close of play.

Middle-order batter Mohammad Sule­man’s century steered Paki­stan Television (PTV) to 360 for eight off the allotted 80 overs against the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at the UBL Sports Complex.

PTV, who opted to bat first, had lost both the openers at 20, were lifted by Waqar Hussain’s 120-ball 75 (10 fours) and Suleman who consumed 200 balls for his 101 while striking eight fours and a six. Batting at number six, Jahandad Khan smashed a 34-ball 67 with the aid of seven sixes and two fours. Mohammad Shahzad (48 off 35) also made a useful contribution.

Ahmed Bashir grabbed three wickets for 103 in 21 overs, while Kashif Ali and Shayan Sheikh took two wickets apiece.

Scores in brief:

Wapda vs Ghani Glass:

WAPDA 212 in 60.1 overs (Ayaz Tassawar 81, Umar Akmal 32; Shoaib Akhtar 5-71, Mohammad Rameez Jr 3-45); GHANI GLASS 45-6 in 19.4 overs (Mohsin Riaz 18, Mohammad Rameez Jr 10; Ali Shafique 4-10, Ahmed Khan 1-15)

SBP vs HEC:

HEC 95 in 38.4 overs (Mohammad Junaid 27, Mohammad Hurraira 21; Salman Ali Agha 5-39, Zahid Mehmood 3-5); SPB 188-3 in 55 overs (Umar Amin 110 not out, Rameez Aziz 53 not out; Mohammad Junaid 2-84, Syed Tayyab Hussain 1-28)

KRL vs PTV:

PTV 360-8 in 80 overs (Mohammad Suleman 101, Waqar Hussain 75, Jahandad Khan 67, Mohammad Shahzad 48; Ahmed Bashir 3-103, Shayan Sheikh 2-57, Kashif Ali 2-84).

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2024