Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) joined Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in the final of the President’s Trophy Grade-I despite going down against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) by a 210-run margin in their final league game at the SBP Sports Complex in Karachi on Thursday.
SBP claimed their fourth win in the tournament and drew level with WAPDA in terms of wins out of the seven league games each, but failed to match their tally of 120 points, ending with 104. SNGPL finished top of the table with five wins and 137 points. KRL finished fourth win 99 points.
The final of the Departmental first-class tournament will be played from 8-12 February at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
At the SBP Sports Complex on Thursday, SBP resumed their second innings from overnight score of 262-3 in 48 overs and declared at 373-4 in 64 overs, setting a 356-run target for eventual finalists WAPDA.
Overnight unbeaten batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori resumed from 85 not out and remained unbeaten on 128 off 114 balls hitting 14 fours and three sixes, his third first-class century and second in the tournament.
Kashif Ali fell for 66 off 65 balls striking five fours and as many sixes, while first innings centurion and player of the match Rameez Aziz remained not out for 30 off 18 balls clubbing three fours and one six.
In turn, left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti bagged his 29th first-class five-for to skittle WAPDA for 145 in 31.3 overs. Kashif returned impressive figures of 15.3-4-72-5, while off-spinner Qasim Akram picked up three for 41 in 10 overs.
For WAPDA, no.5 batter Nabi Gil fought back with a 93-ball 72 hitting 10 fours and two sixes. WAPDA slipped to 82-5 and then lost five for 63 to lose by 210 runs.
Scores in brief – Round 7 – Day 4 of 4
State Bank of Pakistan beat Water and Power Development Authority by 210 runs at SBP Stadium, Karachi
Target for WAPDA: 356
SBP 394, 83.1 overs (Rameez Aziz 145, Abdullah Fazal 72, Qasim Akram 45, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 30, Shahid Aziz 25, Kashif Bhatti 22; Naqeebullah 3-38, Khalid Usman 3-76, Mujtaba Khan 2-86) and 373-4dec, 64 overs (Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 128 not out, Mohammad Huraira 72, Kashif Ali 66, Hasan Raza 38, Rameez Aziz 30 not out, Abdullah Fazal 27; Mujtaba Khan 3-130)
WAPDA 412 all out, 131.4 overs (Bismillah Khan 115, Mohammad Ammar 77, Khalid Usman 62, Sharoon Siraj 52, Muhammad Akhlaq 33, Nabi Gul 23; Mohammad Ismail 4-64, Shahid Aziz 2-54, Kashif Bhatti 2-110) and 145 all out, 31.3 overs (Nabi Gul 72, Khalid Usman 21; Kashif Bhatti 5-72, Qasim Akram 3-41)
Player of the match – Rameez Aziz (SBP)
