Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) registered their fourth consecutive win as the fourth round of the President’s Cup Grade-I concluded with Ghani Glass, Sahir Associates and Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) bagging victories at the four venues in Karachi on Sunday.
The fifth round of the tournament will take place on Tuesday, December 16, with the National Bank Stadium and Naya Nazimabad Stadium fixtures being day-night affairs, while the games at the KCCA Stadium and UBL Sports Complex will be played in the day.
Centurions Maaz Sadaqat and Imam-ul-Haq provided table-toppers OGDCL a rampant start against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at the Oval Academy Ground with a 159-run opening stand in their 67-run win.
WAPDA’s decision to bowl first was challenged by Maaz and Imam as the duo ransacked runs at a brisk pace, bringing up the 100-run stand in 14.1 overs. Maaz – who hit seven fours and 10 sixes in his 65-ball 110 – brought up his second List A century with a six off just 57 balls in the 20th over.
Imam fetched 108 off 111 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes as he registered his 15th List A century.
Haroon Arshad contributed 37 off 31 balls, hitting four fours, while Danish Aziz, who walked in at 300-6, provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 42 off 32 balls comprising three fours and one six as OGDCL posted 380-8 in their 50 overs.
In turn, WAPDA fell short by 67 runs despite challenging OGDCL at various stages of their innings. After WAPDA were 180-5 in 27.4 overs, Bismillah Khan (77) and Ahmed Safi (60) stitched a 119-run stand, striking half-centuries but in vain.
Earlier, all of WAPDA’s top five batters got starts but couldn’t convert them into big knocks as opening batter Mohammad Naeem fell for a 30-ball 50 off eight fours and two sixes in a 64-run opening stand with Muhammad Akhlaq (23).
Mohammad Arif (25), Sharoon Siraj (24) and skipper Ayaz Tasawar’s (36) promising starts in a mammoth chase were cut short by OGDCL bowlers at regular intervals. Skipper Adil Amin led the way with figures of 10-0-42-4, while Haroon picked up two scalps.
Ghani Glass eked out a thrilling one-wicket win over Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) as they chased the 222-run target with nine balls to spare at the UBL Sports Complex.
At the Naya Nazimabad Stadium, Sahir Associates registered their second consecutive triumph chasing the 208-run target set by PTV with the help of Faham-ul-Haq’s maiden List A century.
KRL beat State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) by a thumping nine-wicket margin as they chased the 163-run target in 33.4 overs with Shahzaib Khan (69 not out) and Iftikhar Ahmed (50 not out) striking unbeaten half-centuries after Saad Baig fell for 43 off 64, comprising five fours.
SNGPL, PTV, Sahir Associates bag wins in President’s Cup third round
