Naumanullah and Akhtar Sarfraz capitalized on an excellent hundred-plus opening stand to add another 134 runs for the fourth wicket, helping National Bank to end the first day of the Patron's Trophy Grade I final against Pakistan Customs in a strong position at 324 for seven.

Both Customs and National Bank stuffed their sides with pacers as the wicket at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, having a fair amount of grass on it, promised help for the seamers. However, the docile nature of the pitch was soon laid bare.

After seeing off the hostile bowling spells by Stephen John and Nadeem Iqbal, the opening pair of National Bank, namely Shahid Anwar and the skipper Sajid Ali, settled down. Exploiting the lightening fast outfield under the sunny Lahore sky, both these ex-ODI players executed their shots with perfect ease.

Teasing and defying the Customs attack for as long as 24 overs, they piled up 113 for the first wicket, which contained 46 (85 balls) by Shahid and 59 (67 balls) by Sajid.

However, after the departure in quick succession of these two and the dismissal of Qaiser Abbas for a duck, the tables seemed to have been completely turned. However, Akhtar Sarfraz found an able ally in Naumanullah at this juncture, as he frustrated the bowlers with shots played to all corners of the ground.

They played sensibly, avoiding any undue risks and increasing their scores at the same time, adding a valuable 134 for the fourth wicket in around 38 overs.

National Bank reached their 250 in the 67th over. Akhtar, who had played with utter concentration hitherto, lost his cool after being hit on the hand by a rising delivery. Trying to dispatch the next one away, he gave a simple catch to wicket keeper Wasim Yousufi off Naved-ul-Hasan. He made 74 off 124 balls and hit 11 boundaries.

Naumanullah, meanwhile, kept on the good work despite cramping his leg, after which he had to take the services of a runner (Qaiser Abbas). After the fall of Saeed Azad's wicket at 259, he added 23 with Mohammad Javed and 40 with Kamran Akmal.

Kamran, the wicket keeper batsman, made a useful 24 (43 balls) before becoming the fourth victim of his counter part Wasim Yousifi who kept wickets excellently throughout the day.

Naumanullah ended the day with an unbeaten 83 (180 balls) against his name. With him at the crease is Zahid Saeed who has yet to get off the mark despite having faced 10 balls.

For Customs, Ali Naqvi remained the most successful bowler getting three wickets for 59. Naved got 2 for 70, whereas Azhar Shafique and Nadeem Iqbal bagged one wicket each.

© CricInfo