Day three of the third round in President’s Trophy Grade I 2023-24 saw Ghani Glass inching close to victory despite Pakistan Television’s (PTV) top effort with the bat in the second innings. Meanwhile, the game between Khan Research laboratories (KRL) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) is set up nicely for an exciting finish on the last day. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) put a fight against a strong Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
Ghani Glass vs PTV at National Bank Stadium, Karachi
Ghani Glass require 95 runs to win with nine wickets in the bag as PTV’s spirited second-innings effort yielded valuable runs. Continuing from their overnight score of 183-2, the PTV duo of Taimur Khan (160, 200b, 27x4s, 2x6s) and Mohammad Suleman (106, 196b, 10x4s, 1x6) went onto score valiant hundreds. Both batters shared a third-wicket partnership of 263 runs, helping PTV obtain a lead of 218 runs.
PTV managed a total of 409 setting a target of 219 for Ghani Glass. Leg-spinner Mohammad Rameez Jnr bagged a five-wicket haul, taking his tally of wickets in the match to nine. Shoaib Akhtar and Saeed Ali picked up three and two wickets respectively.
In pursuit of the target, Ghani Glass got off to a solid start as their opening batters, Sharjeel Khan (74 not out, 92b, 8x4s, 2x6s) and Mohsin Riaz (28, 51b, 4x4s, 1x6) notched a 100-run partnership. Mohsin was removed by Mohammad Sadaqat while Sharjeel was joined by Tayyab Tahir (17 not out, 39b, 2x4s) as the pair saw off the day with a total of 124-1 on the board.
KRL vs HEC at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi
KRL set a target of 434 for Higher Education Commission (HEC) after stretching their overnight lead of 113 runs. KRL opening batter, Abdul Faseeh (156, 179b, 16x4s, 4x6s), the first-innings centurion, brought up his fifth first-class hundred. He also become just the fourth Pakistan batter to score 150 or more in each innings of a first-class game after Zaheer Abbas, Faisal Athar and Sadiq Mohammad.
Sharoon Siraj (65, 59b, 8x4s, 3x6s) and Maaz Sadaqat (53 not out, 44b, 9x4s) struck brisk half-centuries to take KRL’s second-innings total to 401-9 before they declared.
HEC’s Adeel Meo, Jahanzaib Sultan and Waseem Akram bagged two scalps each while Mohammad Azab, Mohammad Junaid and Saad Khan struck once. HEC lost opening batter Jahanzaib Sultan (13, 20b, 3x4s) early on as Sirajuddin removed him.
Mohammad Huraira (55 not out, 55b, 9x4s) and Saad Khan (44 not out, 61b, 8x4s) joined forces to stitch an unbeaten 101 run partnership taking the team total to 117-1 by the close of play. HEC require 317 runs to win the game with nine wickets in hand.
SNGPL vs SBP at State Bank Stadium, Karachi
SBP were all out for 257 in their second innings as they continued from their overnight score of 59-2. Rameez Aziz (80, 208b, 9x4s, 1x6) top-scored while keeping one end safe for a majority of the innings.
Mohammad Ali removed skipper Usman Salahuddin early on while Muhammad Irfan Khan (75, 118b, 9x4s, 1x6) made sure to arrest the imminent collapse with a half-century. Mohammad Ilyas chipped in with a vital cameo of 33 runs from 15 balls, comprising of six boundaries and one maximum.
Mohammad Awais Anwar picked up three wickets while Shahnawaz Dahani and Mohammad Ali returned with two wickets each. Bilawal Bhatti, Mubasir Khan and Abdul Samad also struck once. SNGPL’s chase was rocked early when Mohammad Abbas dismissed Abid Ali (2, 9b) and Ali Waqas (5, 26b) in an economical spell. On day four, SBP require eight more wickets to win while SNGPL need to score 108 more runs.