LAHORE, Oct 5: Karachi Dolphins became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the RBS National Twenty20 Cup after beating Faisalabad Wolves by eight runs in a thrilling finish at Gaddafi Stadium here on Sunday.

The Wolves, chasing 156, were restricted to 147-5 in 20 overs despite having their captain Misbah-ul-Haq at the crease. The Pakistan vice-captain hit up 48.

The Wolves required 14 runs in the final over of the match, but when Misbah lost the strike on the third ball, the game tilted towards the Dolphins as Khurram Shahzad failed to produce big hits.

Mohammad Salman also scored 48 with six boundaries and one six.

Earlier, batting first the Dolphins made a good start through openers Khurram Manzoor (34) and Khalid Latif (22), who together put on 58.

Skipper Shahid Afridi later boosted the total by bludgeoning three fours and one six in a 12-ball 28.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was the pick of the Wolves’ bowling, snaring three wickets for 37 runs.

In other matches, Multan Tigers, Rawalpindi Rams, Hyderabad Hawks registered convincing victories as Quetta Bears and Karachi Zebras were ousted from the semi-final race earlier in the day.

The Tigers inflicted a seven-wicket victory over Peshawar Panthers to put the latter’s semi-final prospects in jeopardy at the LCCA Ground.

The awesome pace attack of Abdul Rauf and Kamran Hussain, who shared five wickets for just 21 runs between them, bundled out the Panthers for 103. Both Kamran (3-11) and Rauf (2-11) also sent down one maiden over each. Had Aftab Khan (52, four fours) and Umar Gul (18) not made some contribution from the lower order, Panthers could have bowled out much earlier after losing the first six wickets for mere 15 runs.

Opener Sohaib Maqsood (39 off 33 balls) and Saeed Anwar Junior (32 off 37 balls) then helped Tigers raced to victory with 19 deliveries to spare.

Discarded Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat bowled economically to take three wickets for five runs while Sohail Tanvir picked up three for 20 as Rawalpindi Rams outclassed Quetta Bears by 75 runs in another fixture at the LCCA Ground.

The Bears, who almost upset Lahore Lions on Saturday before going down by only two runs, looked a mediocre side against the Rams and were bowled out for a paltry 67 in 15.3 overs after being set a target of 143.

Earlier, Yasir Arafat also excelled with the willow, scoring 35. Jamal Anwar also contributed 35.

Hurricane batting by Rizwan Ahmed (57 off 43 balls, six fours and one six) and an unbeaten 48 by Shahid Qambrani inspired Hyderabad Hawks to a 30-run win over Karachi Zebras in the afternoon match at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Chasing a total of 170, Zebras limped to 139-9 in 20 overs despite rollicking opening stand of 87 from youngster Shahzaib Hasan (61 off 32 balls seven fours, three sixes) and Shadab Kabir (37 off 37 balls, three fours) .

Hawks skipper Faisal Athar bowled well to claim three wickets for seven runs. The Zebras, with two straight defeats, now had no chance of reaching the knockout stage of the tournament.

Meanwhile, responsible batting by Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, backed by economic bowling from lanky left-arm seamer Sarfraz Ahmed guided defending champions Sialkot Stallions to an easy 32-run win over Karachi Zebras at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday night.

Shoaib hit a 28-ball 39 as Stallions overcame a shaky start. The Zebras were, however, restricted to 147-6 in the stipulated overs with Sarfraz grabbling three for 16. Only Asif Zakir excelled for the losers with an unbeaten 58 off 51 deliveries.

Despite boasting Shoaib Akhtar and Rao Iftikhar in their line-up, Islamabad Leopards went down by 14 runs against Peshawar Panthers at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Chasing 176, the Leopards ended up at 161-9 in 20 overs. Zohaib

Khan, who was expensive, took 3-38 in four overs. Umar Gul claimed one wicket for 24 runs.

Earlier, the Panthers collected 175-7 with useful contributions coming from Yasir Hameed (33), Janisar Khan (41) and Younis Khan (45 not out).

Shoaib, who bowled with fire, managed just one wicket while giving away 30 runs in four overs. Rauf Akbar remained the top wicket-taker with three for 26.

Summarised scores:

Played on Sunday:

At LCCA Ground: Multan Tigers beat Peshawar Panthers by seven wickets.

PESHAWAR PANTHERS 103 in 19.3 overs (Aftab Khan 52; Kamran Hussain 3-10, Abdur Rauf 2-11); MULTAN TIGERS 104-3 in 16.5 overs (Sohaib Maqsood 39, Saeed Anwar 32).

At LCCA Ground: Rawalpindi Rams beat Quetta Bears by 75 runs.RAWALPINDI RAMS 142 in 20 overs (Yasir Arafat 35, Jamal Anwar 35 not out; Gohar Faiz 3-19); QUETTA BEARS 67 in 15.3 overs (Yasir Arafat 3-5, Sohail Tanvir 3-20).

At Gaddafi Stadium: Hyderabad Hawks beat Karachi Zebras by 30 runs.

HYDERABAD HAWKS 169-4 in 20 overs (Rizwan Ahmed 57, Shahid Qambrani 48; Tabish Khan 2-26); KARACHI ZEBRAS 139-9 in 20 overs (Shahzaib Hasan 61, Shadab Kabir 37; Faisal Athar 3-7, Ali Talpur 2-30).

At Gaddafi Stadium: Karachi Dolphins beat Faisalabad Wolves by eight runs.

KARACHI DOLPHINS 155 in 20 overs (Khurram Manzoor 34, Shahid Afridi 28, Khalid Latif 22; Saeed Ajmal 3-37); FAISALABAD WOLVES 147-5 in 20 overs (Mohammad Salman 48, Misbah-ul-Haq 48; Shahid Afridi 2-16, Sohail Khan 2-20).

Played on Saturday:

At Gaddafi Stadium: Sialkot Stallions beat Karachi Zebras by 32 runs.

SIALKOT STALLIONS 179-9 in 20 overs (Qaiser Abbas 49, Shoaib Malik 39; Fahad Khan 4-21); KARACHI ZEBRAS 147-6 in 20 overs (Asif Zakir 58 not out; Sarfraz Ahmed 3-16).

At Gaddafi Stadium: Peshawar Panthers beat Islamabad Leopards by 14 runs.

PESHAWAR PANTHERS 175-7 in 20 overs (Younis Khan 45 not out, Janisar Khan 41, Yasir Hameed 33; Rauf Akbar 3-26); ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS 161-9 in 20 overs (Umair Khan 37; Zohaib Khan 3-38).