Tanvir six-for puts ZTBL on top

Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited dominated the first day against Rawalpindi at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and have taken control of the game. Left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir and Inftikhar Anjum - both have played for Pakistan - ran through Rawalpindi to skittle them out for 115. Tanvir grabbed 6 for 41 - his tenth haul of five or more wickets in first-class games - while Iftikhar backed him up with three. The top scorer for Rawalpindi was wicketkeeper Jamal Anwar with 29 but his team capitulated, losing their last six wickets for 15 runs. In response, ZTBL overcame a poor start to finish the day on 119 for 2, a lead of four runs, with Shahid Yousuf and captain Imran Nazir going strong with unbeaten half-centuries.

Ahmad Raza's five wicket haul ensured Multan shared the honours with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited after opener Ali Waqas made his second first-class century at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Waqas put on 93 with fellow opener Naeemuddin, who made 56, before adding 90 with Raza Ali Dar to put Northern Gas in a commanding position at 183 for 1. That's when Raza got into the act, taking five of the next six wickets to fall, including Waqas for 105, as Multan clawed their way back in to the match. Waqas' century took 222 balls and contained 13 fours. Northern Gas ended the day at 282 for 7, with Raza taking 5 for 96.

Habib Bank claimed the honours on the first day of their Division 1 clash against Faisalabad at the Iqbal Stadium. Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria's 62nd five-wicket haul spun Faisalabad to 172 all out after fast bowler Sarmad Anwar had taken two early wickets to put them on the back foot. Faisalabad had slumped to 114 for 7 but No. 9 Hasan Mahmood's fighting 39 lifted them to a modest score. The Habib Bank openers knocked off 40 runs by stumps, with Ahmed Shehzad hitting five fours in his unbeaten 27.

Islamabad plodded to 240 for 7 against National Bank of Pakistan at the Diamond Club Ground, pushed along by forties from Imad Wasim and Ameer Khan. Whenever Islamabad built up a decent partnership, one of National Bank's bowlers would strike, and then Islamabad would rebuild slowly all over again. This trend was repeated throughout the day, and Islamabad had seven partnerships between 20 and 40. Ameer took 193 deliveries for his 43, and Imad's unbeaten 48 came off 118. Islamabad were also helped by the 43 extras that National Bank conceded, including 23 no-balls. Five of the six bowlers used were among the wickets.

Thirteen wickets fell on the first day of the encounter between Sialkot and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at the Jinnah Stadium. Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, with 3 for 23, led WAPDA's bowlers as they scythed through Sialkot, who folded up for 126. Majid Jehangir was the only batsman to offer resistance with his 55 that included nine fours. Opener Kamran Younis made 24 before he was run out. Fast bowlers Sarfraz Ahmed and Naved-ul-Hasan took two wickets apiece. Prince Abbas' twin strikes hurt WAPDA, but opener Adil Nisar's patient unbeaten 33 took them to 74 for 3 at stumps.