ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Faizan’s brilliant all-round display led the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to a nine-wicket win over Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the opening round match of the President’s Cup (one-day tournament) at the Diamond Ground here Thursday.
In the other match of Group A, Wapda on the back of an unbeaten century from Mohammad Arif defeated Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) by eight wickets. In group B matches, Ghani Glass defeated SNGPL by 19 runs on DLS, while PTV overcame OGDCL by 31 runs on DLS.
After being put into bat, HEC were bowled out for 111 in 38 overs at the Diamond Ground. HEC’s captain Aaliyan Mahmood top-scored with 24 off 49 balls. In turn, Faizan shined with the bat also, returning undefeated on 84 off 43 balls to take his side home in the 12th over with nine wickets in hand.
Wapda defeated KRL by eight wickets in the second match of Group A at the Abbottabad Stadium. After being put into bat, KRL were all out for 238 in 50 overs, with opening batter Maaz Sadaqat top-scoring for the side with a 92-ball 74.
For Wapda, Ali Raza and Mohammad Zeeshan grabbed three wickets apiece, while Naqeebullah bagged two wickets. In reply, Mohammad Arif struck an unbeaten 100 off 115 balls. Captain Iftikhar Ahmed returned unbeaten on 56 off 44 balls.
At the Saeed Sports City Bedian in Lahore, Ghani Glass defeated SNGPL by 19 runs on DLS after bad light ended the game with Ghani Glass scoring 273-3 in 45 overs. Chasing 307 to win, Tayyab Tahir scored an unbeaten 128 off 138 balls and knitted a 180-run partnership for the third wicket with Hussain Talat (79). Saad Nasim scored an unbeaten 29-ball 36.
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, SNGPL scored 306-8 in 50 overs. Opening batter Haseebullah scored 128 off 130 balls. Omair Bin Yousuf was the other notable run-getter, scoring 82 off 70 balls. For Ghani Glass, Ubaid Shah bagged four wickets for 48 runs in 10 overs, while captain Shadab Khan took two wickets. Meanwhile, PTV beat OGDCL by 31 runs on DLS at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Opting to bat first, PTV on the back of Amad Butt’s 105, scored 320 for eight in 50 overs.
Faheem Ashraf scored 88 off 81 balls, hitting eight fours and four sixes. For OGDCL, Muhammad Umar picked three wickets, while Asif Afridi grabbed two wickets. OGDCL were 250-7 in 45 overs when bad light stopped play and the match did not resume further.
For the losing team, Abbas Ali (72) and captain Adil Amin (62) scored half-centuries. For the winning side, Faisal Akram, Faheem and Israr Hussain grabbed two wickets apiece. The second round matches of the President’s Cup will take place tomorrow (Saturday).
Scores in brief: SBP beat HEC by nine wickets: HEC 111 all out, 38 overs (Aaliyan Mahmood 24; Mohammad Faizan 5-24, Saqib Khan 3-21). SBP 113-1, 11.5 overs (Mohammad Faizan 84 not out).
Wapda beat KRL by eight wickets: KRL 238 all out, 50 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 74, Naseerullah Khan 36, Rohail Nazir 33 not out; Mohammad Zeeshan 3-54, Ali Raza 3-59, Naqeebullah 2-41). Wapda 239-2, 38.5 overs (Mohammad Arif 100 not out, Iftikhar Ahmed 56 not out, Muhammad Akhlaq 45, Bismillah Khan 30).
Ghani Glass beat SNGPL by 19 runs: SNGPL 306-8, 50 overs (Haseebullah 128, Omair Bin Yousuf 82; Ubaid Shah 4-48, Shadab Khan 2-65). Ghani Glass 273-3, 45 overs (Tayyab Tahir 128 not out, Hussain Talat 79, Saad Nasim 36 not out).
PTV beat OGDCL by 31 runs (DLS): PTV 320-8, 50 overs (Amad Butt 105, Faheem Ashraf 88, Jahandad Khan 51 not out; Muhammad Umar 3-74, Asif Afridi 2-30). OGDCL 250-7, 45 overs (Abbas Ali 72, Adil Amin 62; Faheem Ashraf 2-45, Faisal Akram 2-46, Israr Hussain 2-51).