On a sunlit morning at the SBP Sports Complex, Rameez Aziz walked out to the middle with quiet confidence, his bat a weapon of precision rather than power. By the time the umpires called stumps, he had carved out a magnificent 135 not out, ensuring State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) finished at 314-5 against Eshaal Associates on the opening day of the sixth round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I.
Aziz’s innings was an exhibition of timing and control, a patient yet assertive knock that saw him dispatch 21 boundaries to all parts of the ground. His 180-ball stay at the crease provided the perfect foundation for SBP after early breakthroughs threatened to shake their progress.
The day had begun with Imran Butt (55 off 91, 6x4s) and Fawad Alam (59 off 141, 5x4s) setting the tempo, stitching together vital partnerships to keep the scoreboard ticking. But it was Aziz’s arrival that transformed SBP’s innings from steady to dominant.
Eshaal Associates, despite their bowlers’ persistent efforts, struggled to break through after the first few wickets. Jalat Khan (2-74) and Nisar Ahmed (2-69) found some purchase from the surface, but as the day wore on, their impact waned under Aziz’s relentless accumulation of runs.
By the end of the day’s play, SBP sat comfortably at 314-5, their top order having laid a solid platform. With Aziz still at the crease and looking in complete control, Eshaal Associates will have to come up with something special to wrestle back momentum on Day 2.
Elsewhere Across Karachi: A Tale of Grit and Collapse
At UBL Sports Complex, it was a day of contrasting fortunes. SNGPL’s Kashif Ali (5-56) ran through Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) batting lineup, bundling them out for 179 in just 43.4 overs. Kashif, bowling with aggression and purpose, delivered a fiery spell that kept the batters guessing.
Despite the early success with the ball, SNGPL found themselves in deep trouble by the time stumps were drawn. HEC’s bowlers, led by Maaz Khurram Amin (3-34) and Waseem Akram Jnr (2-20), made life difficult for the SNGPL batters, reducing them to 100-7 in 29 overs. With the game hanging in the balance, Day 2 promises an enthralling contest between bat and ball.
At KCCA Stadium, Junaid Ali’s dazzling century (116 off 148, 20x4s) stole the show as Ghani Glass piled up 390-9 against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL). Playing with controlled aggression, Junaid’s stroke play was a delight to watch, while Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood (67 off 60, 12x4s) provided a vital boost.
KRL’s Jawad Ali (5-115) and Mohammad Qaisar (3-60) toiled hard but couldn’t prevent Ghani Glass from putting up a daunting total. With nearly 400 runs on the board, KRL will have to bat out of their skins to stay in the contest.
Meanwhile, at Rashid Latif Cricket Academy Ground, PTV’s top order dominated WAPDA’s bowling attack, finishing the day at 375-6 in 90 overs. Waqar Hussain (78 off 103, 6x4s, 3x6s) and Muhammad Shahzad (74 off 74, 8x4s, 2x6s) played attacking cricket, making the most of the batting-friendly conditions. Mohammad Taha (59 off 97, 7x4s) also added valuable runs to ensure PTV stayed ahead.
For WAPDA, skipper Khalid Usman (4-124 in 31 overs) led from the front, but with limited support from the other bowlers, his side now faces an uphill task.
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