RAWALPINDI: Khan Research Laboratories beat Pakistan Television by six wickets on the third day of their President’s Trophy Grade-I match at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, registering their first win of the tournament after five consecutive draws.
PTV resumed their second innings at 44 for two and were bowled out for 132 in 38 overs. Saqib Khan spearheaded the KRL attack with five wickets for 37 runs in 14 overs, setting up a target of 224.
Iftikhar Ahmed then led the chase with a match-winning 76 off 82 balls, striking 12 boundaries. KRL reached 224 for four in 41.4 overs to complete a comfortable victory.
Saqib Khan’s five-for breaks PTV’s resistance
Abbas Ali top-scored for PTV in the second innings with 38 off 90 balls, including four fours and two sixes. Israr Hussain contributed 20 off 18 balls with one four and two sixes. Muhammad Ammar scored 19 off 38 balls, while opener Yasir Khan added 12 off 14.
Saqib claimed five for 37 in 14 overs. Arshad Iqbal took three wickets, while Ahmed Bashir and Muhammad Danial Ali Khan picked up one apiece.
Iftikhar leads a composed chase
Chasing 224, KRL never looked under pressure. Iftikhar’s 76 off 82 balls anchored the innings. Imran Rafiq provided valuable support with 50 off 37 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes. Asim Ali Nasir contributed 47 off 68 balls with five boundaries, while openers Raja Hamza Waheed and Shahzeb Khan chipped in with 16 and 27 respectively.
How the match was set up
PTV had opted to bat first and were bowled out for 220 in 49.4 overs. Mohammad Sharoon Siraj top-scored with 64 off 106 balls, while Mohammad Taimur Khan struck 62 off 76. After slipping to 68 for four, PTV recovered to 183 for five through a century partnership between Sharoon and Muhammad Taha (25).
Ahmed Bashir led KRL’s bowling with four for 59 in 16 overs, while Arshad Iqbal claimed three, Muhammad Danial Ali Khan two and Saqib Khan one.
In reply, KRL were dismissed for 129 in 48.2 overs, conceding a 91-run lead. Shahzeb Khan top-scored with 31, while Israr Hussain took five for 56 for PTV; Kashif Ali claimed three and Khalil Ahmed two.
Around the grounds in round six
At the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Khalid Usman’s five for 70 gave Markhor IT (MIT Solutions) a 32-run first-innings lead over State Bank of Pakistan. Resuming at 138 for four, SBP were bowled out for 344, with Rameez Aziz top-scoring with 84 and Ali Shan unbeaten on 59.
MIT Solutions ended day three at 71 for three, extending their overall lead to 103. Earlier, they had made 376, with Abuzar Tariq top-scoring with 77.
The other two matches of the sixth round began on Wednesday after a two-day delay caused by the relocation of the fixtures to new venues.
Hashim Ibrahim’s century put Ghani Glass in a strong position against Kingsmen Academy at the Rana Naveed Cricket Academy: 273 for four at stumps, with the opener scoring 132 off 216 balls.
At the LCCA Ground in Lahore, Ali Zaryab Asif’s century powered OGDCL to 239 for five against SNGPL, despite both openers falling for ducks in the first over. Ali Zaryab made 120 off 203 balls.
Why this first win matters
The President’s Trophy Grade-I is the PCB’s departmental first-class competition, contested by teams representing organisations and departments. Five consecutive draws had left KRL searching for a decisive result, and this six-wicket win converts their consistency into a victory.
This edition of the competition has already made headlines once this month, when a pitch invasion led Babar Azam to throw a fan’s phone away. Our guide to Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure explains how departmental competitions fit into the wider system.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the KRL vs PTV President’s Trophy match?
Khan Research Laboratories beat Pakistan Television by six wickets on the third day at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
Who starred for KRL in the win?
Iftikhar Ahmed led the chase with 76 off 82 balls, while Saqib Khan took five for 37 in PTV’s second innings and Iftikhar also scored 25 in the first innings.
What is the President’s Trophy Grade-I?
It is the PCB’s departmental first-class competition, contested by teams representing organisations and departments across multi-day matches.
How did KRL win after conceding a first-innings lead?
KRL trailed by 91 runs after the first innings but bowled PTV out for 132 in the second innings, with Saqib Khan taking five for 37, then chased 224 for the loss of four wickets.
What happened in the other round-six matches?
Markhor IT took a 32-run first-innings lead over SBP and ended day three 103 runs ahead. Hashim Ibrahim’s 132 put Ghani Glass on top against Kingsmen Academy, while Ali Zaryab Asif’s 120 powered OGDCL to 239 for five against SNGPL.
