National Bank ended the second day of the Patron's Trophy Grade I final in a high note after reducing Pakistan Customs to 245 for seven in their first innings.

Customs are still 120 runs behind the bankers and only have 3 wickets in hand. Barring miracles, they look certain to concede a first innings lead, which will have a marked effect on the outcome of the match.

However, they must be wondering what went wrong after an excellent 118-run partnership between Nasim Khan (76) and Aamer Bashir (70) had seen them reach 173 for 2 by the 48th over.

After the departure of Nasim for a well made 76 off 134 balls, they lost two more wickets with the addition of just 5 runs. Aamer Iqbal then joined Aamer Bashir at the crease and both added 44 for the 6th wicket before the latter was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Mohammad Javed.

Customs lost one more wicket, that of Aamer Iqbal (22), at the total of 234 before stumps were draw for the day. At stumps, Naved-ul-Hasan and Wasim Yousifi were at the crease with respective individual scores of 8 and 9.

Shabbir Ahmed ended the day with three wickets for 74, whereas Aleem Moosa and Mohammad Javed bagged two wickets each.

Earlier, National Bank added 41 to their overnight total of 324/7 to be all out for 365 in the 17th over of the day, 107th overall.

Naumanullah, starting the day at 83 not out, could score just 8 more runs, adding 36 for the 8th wickets with Zahid Saeed, before holing out an easy catch to Naved-ul-Hasan off the bowling of Ali Naqvi. The stocky right-hander hit 14 boundaries during his marathon innings of 214 balls.

The bankers' remaining two wickets lasted three more overs during which Ali Naqvi completed his five-wicket haul by trapping Zahid Saeed (13 off 63 balls) outside the off stump, offering Wasim Yousufi his 4th catch behind the stumps.

Shabbir Ahmed scored 4 before becoming Stephen John's first and only victim of the match. Aleem Moosa remained unbeaten on 2.

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