Patron's Trophy Grade II: Sui Gas and Pakistan Works Department register wins in second round

Sui Gas Corporation of Pakistan and Pakistan Works Department registered wins in their respective matches against Pakistan Army and Pakistan Education Board in the second round of the Patron's Trophy (Grade II) tournament, whereas the Pakistan Air Force-Service Industries encounter ended in a tame draw.

The Sui Gas-Pakistan Army encounter, played at the SAGA Stadium, Sialkot turned out to be the most interesting match so far of the tournament, with the former emerging winners by a measly margin of three wickets.

Put into bat first by the opposition, Pakistan Army managed 199 in their first innings, which contained a top score of 63 by the middle order batsman Sheraz Khalid. In reply, Sui Gas collected 278 in their first innings, thanks to a gritty knock of 122 by Sohail Idrees. Pakistan Army batsmen failed yet again to pick themselves up when they came out to bat in the second innings, as only Shakeel Nawaz (44) and Sheraz Khalid (41) could contribute something worthwhile with the bat.

Requiring 143 to win, the Sui Gas batsmen made a mess of things, losing wickets at regular intervals. However, they must have let out a sigh of relief after reaching home with three wickets still to spare.

The match between Pakistan Education Board (PEB) and Pakistan Works Department (PWD), played at the LCA ground, proved a one sided affair. Helped by centuries from Zahid Ghouri (101) and Bazid Khan (118), PWD posted an imposing 357 on the board before restricting the opposition to 268. Mushtaq Afridi, the captain of PEB contributed with a fine 109, whereas Mohammad Farooq made 78.

PWD declared their second innings at 210 for 4, setting PEB a target of 300 runs to win the match. The pair of Zahid Ghouri and Bazid Khan again contributed magnificently with the bat, making 78 and 56 not out, respectively.

PEB were bundled out for 140 in their second innings, thus, conceding the match by 159 runs. Pace men, Rajesh Ramesh and Rauf Akbar were the main destroyers for the winning side, bagging seven wickets between them for 66 runs.

The match between Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Service Industries fell prey to a docile display of batting from both sides at a lacklustre wicket of Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot. After taking a first innings lead of 67, PAF could have gone to force a result but as there were only about 31 overs left on the last day, their batsmen had no choice but to play out the remaining time. They ended up on 153 for three in the second innings, after registering 241 in the first. Services Industries had declared their first innings at 174 for 9.

The third round of the tournament gets underway from 1st March 2001.