Karachi, 23 January 2024: The third day of the last round of President’s Trophy Grade I 2023-24 saw Ghani Glass winning a close game against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Ghani Glass’ spinner Mohamamd Rameez Jnr spun a web on his way to bagging a match haul of ten wickets while also becoming the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) had a good day with the bat and will look to wrap the game on day four, requiring nine wickets to win against the Higher Education Commission (HEC). SNGPL’s Kamran Ghulam struck a brilliant hundred to give his team an edge over HEC.

Ghani Glass vs SBP at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi

Ghani Glass beat SBP by two wickets in a thrilling contest that ended on day three. SBP continued from their overnight score of 139-2 and immediately found themselves amidst a batting collapse. Umar Amin (104, 125b, 14x4s, 1×6) notched his 30th first-class hundred after adding 18 more runs to his overnight score.

Salman Ali Agha (14, 35b, 1×4) was dismissed by Mohammad Rameez Jnr who wreaked havoc with the ball on his way to his fifth first-class five-wicket haul. Muhammad Irfan Khan and Mohammad Mohsin bagged ducks while wicketkeeper batter Ali Shan too returned for a paltry score of four runs.

Kashif Bhatti and Mohammad Abbas were dismissed for ducks as well as Ghani Glass bowlers bundled out SBP for 179

Leg spinner Rameez Jnr returned with figures of 6-59 in 14.3 overs taking his match tally to 10 wickets.

In pursuit of 176-run target, Ghani Glass lost their opening batter Shahbaz Javed early on as he copped a two-ball duck. Mohammad Azeem Ghumman (16, 49b, 2x4s) and Tayyab Tahir (17, 28b, 3x4s) put on a 26-run second-wicket partnership before the latter was run out by Usman.

Shan Masood walked out all guns blazing as he played a valuable cameo of 34 runs off 16 balls comprising of five boundaries and two sixes before getting stumped on Kashif Bhatti’s bowling.

Skipper Moeez Ghani returned to the dugout after adding only five runs in his 28-ball stay as Zahid Mehmood struck to remove him leaving Ghani Glass reeling at 77-5. Saad Nasim (29, 30b, 6x4s) and Saaed Ali’s (40, 67b, 7x4s) valuable contributions meant that Ghani Glass inched close to the target.

Rameez Jnr added 11 valuable runs to the total before falling prey to Afaq Afridi. With two wickets in the bag, Ghulam Haider (14 not out, 44b, 2x4s) and Shoaib Akhtar (9 not out, 12b, 2x4s) took their team home.

Afaq bagged three wickets while Kashif and Zahid returned with two wickets each.

SNGPL vs HEC at State Bank Stadium, Karachi

HEC require 283 runs to win on the last day of the game as they finished 93-1 in 24 overs after stumps were drawn.

Earlier in the day, SNGPL posted a target of 374 runs. Continuing from their overnight score of 54-0, the SNGPL opening batters, Azhar Ali (38, 71b, 4x4s) and Omair Bin Yousuf (82, 139b, 10x4s) put on an opening partnership of 76 runs.

Abid Ali had to depart from the middle after being retired hurt.

Kamran Ghulam struck his 15th first-class ton, accumulating 104 runs in his 140-ball stay on the crease, hitting nine boundaries and four sixes.

Saud Shakeel (49, 55b, 5x4s) did well to keep the scoreboard ticking but missed his half-century by a single run.

Skipper Asad Shafiq hit a brisk 42 from 40 balls comprising of three boundaries and as many sixes.

Mubasir Khan (3 not out, 3b) and Mir Hamza (13 not out, 7b, 2x6s) were on the crease when SNGPL declared their innings on 351-5.

Asif Ali Chandio bagged two wickets while Waseem Akram, Syed Tayyab Hussain and Umar Lohya picked up one wicket each.

HEC’s opening batter Mohammad Mohsin Khan (6 not out, 12b) went after being retired hurt while Mohammad Huraira (36, 50b, 6x4s) was dismissed by Mohammad Ali leaving them 34-1.

Skipper Saad Khan (29 not out, 48b, 4x4s, 1×6) and Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (19 not out, 35b, 3x4s) put on an unbeaten partnership of 58 runs before the close of play.

Scores in brief:

WAPDA beat PTV by three wickets at National Bank Stadium

PTV 146 all out, 39.4 overs (Uzair Mumtaz 46, Hasan Mohsin 43, Mohammad Ibtisam 19 not out; Asif Afridi 5-67, Khalid Usman 3-43, Ali Shafiq 2-11) and 202 all out, 57 overs (Muhammad Shahzad 53, Taimur Khan 38, Mohammad Junaid 34 not out; Asif Afridi 4-87, Khalid Usman 3-74, Tahir Hussain 2-20)

WAPDA 124 all out, 34.1 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 30, Asif Afridi 24, Muhammad Akhlaq 22; Faisal Akram 7-47) and 227-7, 41 overs (Muhammad Akhlaq 100, Ahmed Shehzad 64, Ayaz Tasawar 25; Mohammad Junaid 3-82, Faisal Akram 3-92)

Ghani Glass beat SBP by two wickets at UBL Sports Complex

SBP 278 all out, 70.4 overs (Umar Amin 69, Mohammad Mohsin 61, Usman Salahuddin 50; Mohammad Rameez Jnr 4-122, Shoaib Akhtar 3-39, Saeed Ali 1-41, Ghulam Haider 1-44) and 179 all out, 43.3 overs (Umar Amin 104, Rameez Aziz 34, Usman Salahuddin 15; Mohammad Rameez Jnr 6-59, Ahad Malik 2-27, Ghulam Haider 1-36)

Ghani Glass 282-9, 80 overs (Saad Nasim 53, Muhammad Azeem Ghumman 47, Shan Masood 32, Shahbaz Javed 32; Kashif Bhatti 5-99) and 179-8, 49.1 overs (Saeed Ali 40, Shan Masood 34, Saad Nasim 29; Afaq Afridi 3-19, Zahid Mehmood 2-35, Kashif Bhatti 2-67)

SNGPL vs HEC at State Bank Stadium

SNGPL 279 all out, 77.4 overs (Saud Shakeel 102, Mubasir Khan 55, Mir Hamza 40, Azhar Ali 36; Waseem Akram 4-50, Abdul Rehman 2-65) and 351-6 dec, 78 overs (Kamran Ghulam 104, Omair Bin Yousuf 82, Saud Shakeel 49, Asad Shafiq 42; Asif Ali Chandio 2-79)

HEC 257 all out, 72 overs (Saad Khan 91, Mohammad Huraira 85, Mohammad Mohsin Khan 27; Mir Hamza 4-53, Mohammad Ali 3-37) and 91-1, 24 overs (Mohammad Huraira 36, Saad Khan 29 not out, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori 19 not out; Mohammad Ali 1-10)