Mir Hamza produced a sensational bowling performance to dismantle defending champions Pakistan Television (PTV) on the opening day of their round-three President’s Trophy Grade-I 2025–26 match against Ghani Glass at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.
Batting first, PTV managed only 186 in 38.4 overs.
Captain and opener Shamyl Hussain top-scored with a fluent 68 off 76 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.
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Wicketkeeper-batter Taimur Khan added 24 off 45 deliveries, but the rest of the lineup offered little resistance.
Mir Hamza led the bowling charge with figures of 5/55 in 14.4 overs.
He received support from Khurram Shahzad and Afaq Afridi, who claimed two wickets each, while Ali Razzaq picked up one scalp.
In reply, Ghani Glass finished day one at 109-5 in 31 overs, trailing by 77 runs.
Ali Razzaq remained unbeaten on 12, while Yahya Bin Abdul Rehman was not out on 11.
The top order had struggled early, with Sharjeel Khan dismissed for 14 by Amad Butt and Khawaja Arham out for eight to Israr Hussain.
Kashif Ali contributed 27 runs with four boundaries before falling to Butt, while Israr Hussain removed Mohsin Riaz for 10 and Saad Nasim for 21.
READ: President’s Trophy 2025–26: Schedule, Where to Watch
Meanwhile, in a round-three match at the UBL Sports Complex, Muhammad Ammar starred with an unbeaten century as Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) dominated Sahir Associates.
Batting first, WAPDA ended day one at 307-6 in 83.4 overs.
Ammar remained unbeaten on 140 off 264 balls, including 22 boundaries.
WAPDA’s innings had a shaky start, losing five wickets for 70 runs.
Openers Imran Dogar and Muhammad Akhlaq were dismissed for ducks by Bilawal and Khan Zaib.
Sharoon Siraj made 31 before being run out.
Khalid Usman then joined Ammar to build a 237-run partnership, stabilising the innings.
The day ended with Khalid out for 93 off 174 balls, featuring eight fours and two sixes, dismissed by Razaullah.
Khan Zaib led the bowling for Sahir Associates with 3/70 in 20 overs, supported by Bilawal and Razaullah.
In another clash at the State Bank Stadium, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) remained in a strong position against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), thanks to opener Azan Awais’ unbeaten century.
SNGPL finished day one at 197-4, with Azan scoring 103 off 242 balls, hitting 13 fours and a six.
Skipper Shan Masood Khan added 35, while Omair Bin Yousuf contributed 22 runs.
For SBP, Shahid Aziz claimed 2/54, with Mohammad Abbas and Qasim Akram picking one wicket each.
Azan and Mohammad Ali will resume on day two aiming for a big total.
At the National Bank Sports Complex, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) bowled out Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) for 244 in 82.4 overs on day one.
Muhammad Hamza starred with 4/31 in 16.4 overs, while Ahmad Bashir took 3/63 and Arshad Iqbal picked up two wickets.
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Danish Aziz top-scored for OGDCL with 56 off 95 balls, supported by Jawad Ali (32), Muhammad Sarwar (31), Umar Siddiq (28), and Muhammad Imran (25).
KRL will resume their innings on day two, looking to build a strong total and put their opponents under pressure.
Mir Hamza’s brilliant five-wicket haul and other standout performances highlighted an action-packed opening day of the President’s Trophy Grade-I, setting the stage for exciting contests in the coming days.
