Aslam leads HBL to eight-wicket win

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Aslam spun Habib Bank Limited to an eight-wicket win over Kararchi Blues at the Southend Club Cricket Stadium in Karachi. There had been no play on the third day as a mark of respect for the funeral of politician Imran Farooq, but the loss of a full day was not enough to save Karachi. Aslam sparked a top-order collapse after the openers had added 56, when he had Rameez Raja caught for 24. He then combined with Shahid Nazir to take the next six wickets as Karachi slumped from 56 for no loss to 90 for 7. At that point, Karachi still trailed by 30 runs and an innings defeat looked to be on the cards. A defiant 41 from Barbar Rehman forced HBL to bat again, and though they lost two wickets, they were always going to chase down the 24 they needed for the win. Aslam finished with 6 for 48 from 19 overs, while Nazir took 3 for 30 from nine.

Faisalabad and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited drew their game at the Sports Stadium in Sargodha. ZTBL led by 58 after the first innings and declared their second on 220 for 5 in the hope of forcing a result, but Faisalabad had no trouble playing out the remaining 31 overs, racing to 141 for the loss of Atif Hussain (77). Farrukh Shehzad made an unbeaten 62, and put on 136 with Hussain, to ensure there would be no nervy moments. Inam-ul-Haq top scored for ZTBL with 67.

Pakistan International Airlines crawled to 250 for 6 on the final day at at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to ensure a draw against Rawalpindi. Starting the day on 54 for 3, still 55 runs behind, Karachi lost Fahad Iqbal for 30 but Kamran Sajid and Shoiab Khan Snr added 107 for the fourth wicket to make the game safe for the visitors. Sajid's 60 was an exhibition of patient blocking - he faced 221 balls and batted for five hours and six minutes. Shoaib was somewhat quicker in making 55, taking 157 balls and batting for only three hours and twenty minutes.

Sialkot dismissed Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited for 422 on the final day to take a first innings lead of 43 and ensure three points at the Jinnah stadium in Sialkot. SNGPL started the day needing 107 to overhaul Sialkot with three wickets in hand, but could only manage 54. Legspinner Mansoor Ajmad took all three wickets to finish with 5 for 92, his seventh five-wicket haul in first class cricket. With no result possible, Kamran Younis took the opportunity to loosen his shoulders, smashing 17 fours and three sixes, as he raced to 137 from 109 balls, his third first-class hundred. Mohammad Ayub chipped in with 54 not out as Sialkot ended the day on 278 for 4.