PIA tumbled out for their lowest total in Patron's Trophy Grade I

Pakistan International Airlines batsmen did not help their cause to qualify for the final of Patron's Trophy Grade I competition after being skittered out for a paltry 95 in their first innings on the second day of the sixth-round match against National Bank, being played at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar.

Prior to this round PIA, with 13 points from five matches, were only ahead of Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the teams' overall standings. They badly needed to win their last two games, that too on the basis of first innings leads, to stay in contention for the final of the eight-team tournament.

The PIA bowling attack, led by the medium pacer Mohammad Zahid Jnr (7 for 71 including a hat trick), did well to contain National Bank (NBP) to 210 in their first innings.

But when it came their batsmen's turn to have a go at the opposition's bowling, they caved in under pressure a bit too easily. Aleem Moosa, the right-handed pace man, emulated his previous match's performance (in which he took 11 wickets against Allied Bank) by grabbing 7 wickets for 39 runs, restricting PIA to a score below hundred.

NBP, in their second innings, were 249 for three at tea on the second day - an overall lead of 364 - with Akhtar Sarfraz (116 not out) and Naumanullah (18 not out) having already added 95 for the fourth wicket.

Barring miracles, the four-day match is heading for a result much before the closing time, with PIA in stark danger of coming out on the wrong end. NBP, on the other hand, are sitting pretty with 33 points in five matches prior to this round.

At the KRL Ground, Rawalpindi, Khan Research Laboratories, at the bottom of Point's Table, are playing for their esteem in their match against Agricultural Development Bank (ADBP), which is currently at number three position with 22 points under their belt.

Making first use of a traditionally batting-friendly track, KRL batsmen managed 268 in their first innings, as Fahad Khan the right arm leg break bowler, took 5 for 57 and pace man Iftikhar Anjum grabbed four for 94.

At tea on the second day, the bankers were four down for 259 with Zahoor Elahi batting marvelously on 130 (196 balls), which include 20 fours and one six. With him at the crease is Ijaz Mahmood with 21 (23 balls 2 fours 2 sixes) against his name.

In the third match of this round, Habib Bank, the leaders of the round robin so far with 34 points, are pitted against an industrious Allied Bank (ABL) side.

Recovering from their last innings' humiliating defeat at the hands of PIA, the HBL batsmen put up a good show by posting 323 against some experienced ABL attack led by the test veterans Aaqib Javed and Aamer Nazir.

In reply, ABL were 210 for the loss of 6 wickets at tea on the second day. Manzoor Akhtar (43 not out) and Ata-ur-Rehman (12) have added 48 for the seventh wicket after they had been reduced to 162 for 6 by the 52nd over of the innings.

The fourth match of the this round, being played at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, has seen Naved Latif playing a valiant knock of 133 for Customs against Wapda, after being curtailed to 160 for 6 at one stage. He added 132 valuable runs for the 7th wicket with Naved-ul-Hasan (70) to take his team's score to respectability.

If Customs' batsmen had done an appreciable job by posting 375 in their first innings, their bowlers even outshone them by restricting the opposition to 208 in their first innings, thus, forcing follow-on.

Wapda were 9 without loss in their second innings after four overs. They face an uphill task to save the match and to give themselves a chance to reach the coveted final of the tournament.