Akhlaq, Salman hit centuries in reduced-overs President's Cup match

Lahore: State Bank of Pakistan defeated Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) by six wickets in a reduced-overs but high-scoring fourth-round match of the President’s Cup one-day tournament at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

In a match reduced to 23-overs-per-side due to overnight rain, WAPDA batted first and collected 201 for three with opener Muhammad Akhlaq scoring an unbeaten 101. He faced 66 balls and struck 13 fours and four sixes. Together with Ahmed Shehzad, Akhlaq added 146 runs for the second wicket. Shehzad’s 47-ball 59 was punctuated with seven fours and a six.

In turn, SBP achieved the target for the loss of four wickets on the penultimate delivery with Salman Ali Agha upstaging Akhlaq with a punishing 56-ball 101 not out that was laced with 13 fours and four sixes. After SBP lost four wickets for 127 runs, Salman and Mohammad Mohsin added 77 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket with Mohsin contributing 23 not out from 13 balls.

The other fixture between Ghani Glass and Higher Education Commission (HEC) was abandoned without a ball at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.

In the third match between Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, SNGPL emerged victorious, beating KRL by 54 runs.

Scores in brief:

SBP beat WAPDA by six wickets at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium

WAPDA 201-3, 23 overs (Muhammad Akhlaq 101 not out, Ahmed Shehzad 59, Bismillah Khan 22 not out)

SBP 204-4, 22.5 overs (Salman Ali Agha 101 not out, Rameez Aziz 36, Mohammad Mohsin 23 not out; Akif Javed 2-51)

Ghani Glass v HEC – match abandoned without a ball being bowled

SNGPL beat KRL by 54 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

SNGPL 233-7, 50 overs (Haseebullah 68, Kamran Ghulam 61, Yasir Shah 37 not out; Mohammad Imran 4-51, Maaz Sadaqat 2-38)

KRL 179 all out, 44.5 overs (Aamer Azmat 59, Sharoon Siraj 44; Shahnawaz Dahani 6-30, yasir Shah 2-29)

Thursday’s fixtures: HEC v PTV, Diamond Cricket Ground; SNGPL v WAPDA, Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium; SBP v KRL, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium