President Trophy Grade-I: KRL, SBP shine with fourth-round victories

KARACHI: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) shined with victories in the fourth round of the ongoing President Trophy Grade-I on Wednesday.

At KCCA Stadium, SBP edged past the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) with a narrow one-wicket victory, while KRL handed defending champions Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) a four-wicket defeat.

Chasing a low total of 145 runs on the final day, the SBP had to make their work cut out as they lost nine wickets in the process.

Kashif Ali rescued his team from a precarious position and scored 42 vital runs, hitting four fours and two sixes while WAPDA’s Naqeebullah’s, who bagged 4 wickets went in vain.

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SBP’s hard-fought one-wicket victory lifted them to the top of the President’s Trophy Grade-I points table, while WAPDA remained at the bottom with 28 points.

On the other hand, at the State Bank Stadium KRL handed the SNGPL their third defeat in the tournament as they chased down the 207-run target in 53 overs with four wickets remaining.

Resuming the batting from an overnight score of 81/3, KRL lost their fourth wicket earlier in the day at 93 runs. Muhammad Awais Zafar, who came out to bat at number six, chipped in with a crucial half-century and made sure that his team remained in the hunt.

Awais top-scored for KRL in the run chase with an unbeaten 71 off 77 with the help of seven fours and three sixes.

For SNGPL, Test pacer Rahat Ali and Saad Khan bagged two wickets each, while speedster Haris Rauf and young all-rounder Qasim Akram chipped in with one dismissal apiece.

The four-wicket victory marked KRL’s first in the tournament which also lifted them to the fifth position on the points table, closely followed by SNGPL in sixth spot.

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