LAHORE, Dec 3: While pool ‘A’ leaders Habib Bank Limited (HBL) were eyeing a massive win against Multan, the Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) game with Lahore Shalimar was heading towards a draw due to some solid batting from the latter on the penultimate day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Championship on Monday.

The HBL first gained a vital 65-run lead in the first innings, scoring 285 after resuming at their overnight score of 276-8 at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Then three wickets each by HBL bowlers Sajid Shah and Aslam Qureshi sent Multan packing for 196 in their second innings, setting HBL a paltry winning target of 132. For Multan only Sohaib Maqsood (66) could resist.

By the close of play, the HBL were seven without any loss in their second innings, needing a further 125 runs for the victory.

Lahore Shalimar, while replying to PIA’s mammoth 564 were 315-6 in the first innings at the Gaddafi Stadium, thanks to some determined batting display by Suleman Khan (82) and Ali Raza (60 not out).

Though Lahore Shalimar were 99 runs away to avert the follow-on with four wickets intact, they have the chance to earn a draw, denying the PIA a certain win.

But even a draw would not hit PIA’s top position in pool ‘B’ with 45 points, as the Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines (SNGPL), also having 45 points, are desperately seeking a draw against Abbottabad at the Abbottabad Stadium, as no play was possible on all three days due to rainy weather there.

Meanwhile, the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) were in a strong position after giving Customs an imposing target of 410 at their own complex in Karachi.

Having gained a slim 23-run first-innings lead, the NBP declared their second innings after reaching a cosy 386-3, due to fine centuries from Naumanullah (136) and Shahid Yousuf (123 not out). Nauman featured in two big partnerships.

He first added 134 with skipper Imran Nazir (74) for the first wicket followed by a 195-run stand with Shahid for the third wicket. At the stumps, Customs were 52-2. Hyderabad, in the meantime, gained control over Wapda at the Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad after setting their opponents wining target of 457.

The hosts, who had seized a first-innings lead of 167 and decided not to force follow-on, declared the second innings at 290-5 after Faisal Athar (92) made the major contribution. In reply, Wapda were six without loss in their second innings.

At the Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar, paceman Nauman Habib’s five-wicket haul helped Peshawar force Quetta to follow-on.

Quetta, while replying to Peshawar’s first-innings total of 307 were bundled out for 143 as Nauman claimed five wickets for 62. In their second innings, Quetta were 118-2, thanks to an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 88 runs between Samiullah (61) and Hamidullah (40).

Other matches of the championship are heading towards draw.

Summarised scores:

At Gaddafi Stadium: PIA (1st innings) 564; LAHORE SHALIMAR (1st innings) 315-6 (Suleman Khan 82, Ali Raza 60 not out, Ahmed Butt 45; Fazle Akbar 3-78).

At Multan Stadium, Multan: MULTAN (1st innings) 220 and 196 (Sohaib Maqsood 66, Naved Yasin 42; Sajid Shah 3-30, Aslam Qureshi3-49); HBL (1st innings) 285 and 7-0.

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi:

KRL (1ST innings) 403-7 declared (Azhar Ali 113, Mohammad Wasim 138, Bilal Asad 51, Bazid Khan 44; Azam Hussain 3-88); KARACHI BLUES (1st innings) 217-7 (Shadab Kabir 54, Mohammad Masroor 56).

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad:

HYDERABAD (1st innings) 339 and 290-5 declared (Faisal Athar 92, Rizwan Ahmed 41); Wapda (1st innings) 172.

At Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala: SSGC (1st innings) 269 and 74-1; SIALKOT (1st innings) 287 (Nayyar Abbas 93 not out, Ayaz Tasawar 45; Sohail Khan 5-86, Shahzad Butt 3-72).

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: PESHAWAR (1st innings) 307; QUETTA (1st innings) 143 (Nauman Habib 5-62, Rahatullah 3-41) and (after follow-on) 118-2 (Samiullah 61, Hamidullah 40).

At Abbottabad Stadium:

Abbottabad v SNGPL: washed out.

At Mirpur Stadium, AJK:

ZTBL (1st innings) 326-9 declared (Faisal Naved 80, Zohaib Khan 53, Zohaib Khan 53; Rizwan Akbar 4-109, Yasir Ali 3-105); RAWALPINDI (1st innings 22-1.

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad:

FAISALABAD (1st innings) 499; KARACHI WHITES (1st innings) 330-5 (Asad Shafiq 197 not out, Khalid Latif 55).

At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi:

NBP (1st innings) 265 and 386-3 declared (Naumanullah 136, Shahid Yousuf 125 not out, Imran Nazir 71); CUSTOMS (1st innings) 242 and 52-2.