Naqvi ton propels Khan Research Laboratories

Former Test opener Ali Naqvi hit his 13th first-class hundred as Khan Research Laboratories scored 261 for 7 against hosts Hyderabad at the Niaz Stadium. While Naqvi was assured at one end, Hyderabad managed to stay in the game by making frequent breakthroughs from the other. The 80-run stand between Naqvi and captain Mohammad Wasim, who has also played for Pakistan, was the highest alliance of the day as the middle order frittered away starts. Naqvi's 116 came in over five hours and included 10 fours and two sixes. Kashif Bhatti and Zahid Mahmood were the main wicket takers, finishing with three apiece on a day when neither side could take a clear advantage.

Abbottabad's captain Wajid Ali struck a boundary-filled 92 but could not rescue his side from stuttering to 246, before his opening bowler Ahmed Jamal picked up two late wickets to leave Lahore Shalimar gasping on an eventful opening day at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. Shalimar chose to field and had the hosts in trouble immediately, Zia-ul-Haq perishing to the first ball of the day. Wajid walked out at 19 for 2, which quickly became 28 for 3, before repairing the innings through a substantial stand in the company of Riaz Kail. The pair added 161, Kail hitting 12 fours in his 68, to lift their side to a position of dominance. Seamers Aamer Hayat and Arsalan Mir, however, sparked a collapse as Abbottabad's lower order crumbled to lose 7 for 57 and with it, the initiative. Shalimar were set to take the honours for the day, but with stumps in sight, Jamal dismissed Ali Haider and Rana Adnan off successive balls to leave the game evenly poised.

Middle-order batsman Wajiuddin struck an unbeaten ton, while his team-mate Asif Zakir fell six short of one, as Karachi Whites batted themselves into a strong position against Quetta at the National Stadium. Quetta's decision to field came apart against the hosts who accumulated diligently through the day. The openers added 45 to see away the new ball before Wajiuddin and Zakir eased into a 183-run stand for the third wicket. The pair struck 23 fours between each other, while Wajiuddin also managed to clear the ropes once. Zakir's wicket was Quetta's only other success of the day as the hosts surged to 282 for 3 by stumps.

Lahore Ravi skittled Pakistan Television for 155, and finished at 40 for 1 to take the upper hand at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. The hosts' effort was spearheaded by seamer Asif Raza who picked up four wickets. The rest of the bowlers supported him well as PTV failed to get going. Junaid Nadir, the No. 10, was the highest scorer with 33 before the innings ended in the 40th over. Lahore had only one blemish on the day, losing opener Farooq Saleem for a duck. Mohammad Saad and Fahad-ul-Haq, however, batted with determination to ensure there were no further losses.

State Bank of Pakistan continued to impress on their comeback to the domestic fold, as the middle-order firm of Rameez Alam and Adnan Raees propelled them to a score of 283 for 4 against Peshawar in Mardan. Peshawar claimed an early wicket after choosing to field, but things went steadily downhill for them from there. Shoaib Khan jnr and Mohtashim Ali steadied the ship with a 55-run stand, before Alam and Raees took control. Alam was the aggressor initially, dominating the stand of 104 with his 72 runs coming in just over two hours. Raees took over after his exit, adding an unbroken 98 with Afsar Nawaz. He struck 12 fours and a six in his innings that came off 172 balls and was six short of a ton at stumps.