The sixth round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I came to a thrilling conclusion on Monday, with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) securing crucial victories, while Higher Education Commission (HEC) outclassed Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) a day earlier. Meanwhile, the contest between Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and Ghani Glass ended in a hard-fought draw.
At KCCA Stadium, Ghani Glass resumed their second innings at 127 for two, with hopes of setting a challenging target. Mohsin Riaz led the charge with a resilient 83, but despite their determined effort, the side was bowled out for 288. This left KRL needing 196 runs for victory, but time ran out, and they reached 31 for one in nine overs when the match concluded, resulting in a draw.
At the SBP Sports Complex, the home side delivered a dominant performance. With Eshaal Associates reeling at 20 for two at the start of play, SBP’s bowlers tightened their grip on the contest. Mohammad Abbas was the chief destroyer, picking up four wickets, while veteran all-rounder Fawad Alam chipped in with three. Eshaal Associates crumbled for 197, falling well short and handing SBP a convincing 164-run victory.
WAPDA’s chase at Rashid Latif Cricket Academy Ground was nothing short of dramatic. Set a daunting 354-run target, they resumed their innings at 180 for three. Mohammad Arif, who had held the innings together on the previous day, extended his sublime knock to 107, while Ayaz Tasawar’s unbeaten 58 provided the finishing touches. Their resilience guided WAPDA to a remarkable three-wicket victory in the final session of play.
On Sunday, HEC had already wrapped up a commanding win over SNGPL at UBL Sports Complex. Mohammad Mohsin Khan’s century proved decisive as HEC posted a solid second-innings total of 292. SNGPL, needing 359 to win, struggled against a relentless bowling attack led by Waseem Akram Jnr and Mohammad Azab. Despite a fighting half-century from Haseebullah and a defiant 49* from Saifullah Bangash, their innings folded for 198, giving HEC a resounding 160-run win.
As the tournament heads into its seventh round, scheduled from February 12 to 15 in Karachi, the stakes continue to rise, with teams vying for top honors in Pakistan’s premier first-class competition.
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