Northern reach top of points table after six-wicket win over Southern Punjab.

KARACHI -- Northern displaced Southern Punjab to claim the top spot on the points table with a six-wicket win on the final day of the sixth round of the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at the UBL Sports Complex on Saturday.

Set 200 to win, Northern helped by half centuries from Nasir Nawaz, Umar Amin and Hammad Azam reached the target in 41.5 overs.

The foundations for the victory were laid with a 97-run partnership between opener Nasir and Umar.

The two had come together with the scorecard reading three for one.

Nasir top-scored with 68 off 80 balls (nine fours and two sixes) he was supported by Umar at the other end, who returned unbeaten on 65.

Following Nasir's dismissal by Umar Khan, who took two wickets, Umar stitched another solid alliance with Hammad that took Northern over the line.

Umar and Hammad added 81 runs for their undefeated fifth-wicket stand, over the course of which Hammad brought up his sixth half-century of the season.

Hammad scored a blistering 53 as he crunched 10 boundaries over the course of his unbeaten 48- ball stay.

Following the defeat, Southern Punjab, who had been at the top of the points table since the start of the season, slipped to the third spot.

In the seventh round of the tournament, which commences on 8 December, Southern Punjab will face Balochistan in a broadcast fixture at the National Stadium, while Northern will face Central Punjab at the UBL Sports...