Defending champions PIA suffered a huge setback after going down by 53 runs to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in Multan. -Photo by AP (file)

KARACHI An unbeaten knock of 117 by Ali Asad propelled Karachi Dolphins to a crushing eight-wicket victory over Peshawar Panthers in a Group 'A' fixture of the RBS National One-day Cup at the National Stadium here on Friday.

The left-handed talented opening batsman struck 12 boundaries in his 132-ball innings as the Dolphins, playing their first match, reached their target of 253 with six overs to spare. Fahadullah contributed 66 (69 balls, seven fours and one six) and put on 118 for the second wicket with Ali.

Multan Tigers, meanwhile, registered their second win when they defeated Quetta Bears by four wickets at the UBL Sports Complex.

Karachi Zebras snatched a dramatic one-run triumph against Sui Southern Gas Company in a Group 'B' tie in Rawalpindi. Wapda also achieved a similar result as they held their nerves against Group 'D' opponents Pakistan Customs in Bahawalpur. Ramiz Raja was the star performer of the day but despite his fine 133 off 130 balls with 15 boundaries, Customs finished on the losing side.

In the same group, defending champions PIA suffered a huge setback after going down by 53 runs to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in Multan.

PIA, missing their regular skipper Shoaib Malik and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who are preparing for the two-match Twenty20 series against England in Dubai, were dismissed for 192 while chasing 246. Raza Ali Dar was SNGPL's match-winner was Raza Ali Dar with 56 and four wickets.

Islamabad Leopards, Sialkot Stallions and Faisalabad Wolves were the winners in Group 'C' matches.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore National Bank scored a crucial victory in Group 'B' after being declared winners on D/L method against their arch-rivals Habib Bank at the Gaddafi Stadium.

After their opening fixture against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in Rawalpindi on Wednesday was abandoned because of rain, National Bank needed to win against Habib Bank. Chasing 272, National Bank had reached 256-7 in 46 overs before the match was called off because of fading light. And since being 14 runs ahead of Habib Bank on D/L Method at that stage, National Bank were pronounced winners. Qaiser Abbas (64 off 65 balls, five fours), Naumanullah (48) and Mansoor Amjad (46 not out) were the main run-getters for them.

Habib Bank had earlier posted 271-9 in 50 overs. Skipper Younis Khan showed signs of returning to form by scoring his second successive half-century. The ex-Pakistan captain hit a fluent 68 off 83 balls with four fours and one six.

Hasan Raza, however, overshadowed Younis as he struck 107 off as many balls with 10 boundaries.

A magnificent century by Mohammad Idrees helped KRL defeat Lahore Eagles by 88 runs at the LCCA Ground. The Eagles were restricted to 175-8 after KRL had been dismissed for 263 with Idrees hitting eight fours and two sixes in making 104 off 91 deliveries.

Results

Group 'A'

At National Stadium, Karachi Karachi Dolphins beat Peshawar Panthers by eight wickets.

PESHAWAR PANTHERS 252-9 in 50 overs (Haroon Khan 61, Azam Jan 56; Faraz Ahmed Khan 3-48, Rumman Khan 2-57); KARACHI DOLPHINS 253-2 in 44 overs (Ali Asad 117 not out, Fahadullah 66, Shaharyar Ghani 43 not out).

AT UBL Sports Complex, Karachi Multan Tigers beat Quetta Bears by four wickets.

QUETTA BEARS 190 in 50 overs (Taimur Khan 52 not out, Shoaib Khan 43; Faisal Elahi 3-39, Zulfiqar Babar 2-22, Abdur Rauf 2-34, Mohammad Hafeez Jr 2-38); MULTAN TIGERS 191-6 in 38.3 overs (Rameez Alam 45, Taimur Dogar 42; Shoaib Khan 3-28).

Group 'B'

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore National Bank beat Habib Bank by 14 runs (D/L Method).

HABIB BANK 271-9 in 50 overs (Hasan Raza 107, Younis Khan 68; Irfanuddin 3-48, Wasim Khan 3-53, Mohammad Asif 2-46); NATIONAL BANK 256/7 in 46 overs(win by D/L method) (Qaiser Abbas 64, Naumanullah 48, Mansoor Amjad 46 not out, Nasir Jamshed 40; Shahid Nazir 3-48, Kamran Hussain 2-49).

At LCCA Ground, Lahore KRL beat Lahore Eagles by 88 runs.

KRL 263 in 49.1 overs (Mohammad Idrees 104, Bazid Khan 59; Imad Ali 3-32, Mohammad Saeed 3-44, Tanzil Altaf 2-23, Mohammad Irshad 2-69); LAHORE EAGLES 175-8 in 50 overs (Asif Yousuf 54 not out, Junaid Jan 48; Nauman Ali 2-28).

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi Karachi Zebras beat SSGC by one run.

KARACHI ZEBRAS 245-8 in 45 overs (Akbar-ur-Rehman 52, Wajihuddin 50; Sohail Khan 3-54); SSGC 244 in 45 overs (Ashraf Ali 71; Mohtashim Ali 2-30, Usama Basharat 2-34, Misbah Khan 2-39).

Group 'C'

At Sports Stadium, Sargodha Faisalabad Wolves beat Lahore Lions by 74 runs.

FAISALABAD WOLVES 274 in 49.1 overs (Zeeshan Asif 80, Mohammad Shahid 56, Farrukh Shahzad 42; Asif Ashfaq 3-49, Junaid Zia 3-52, Mohammad Naved 2-49); LAHORE LIONS 200 in 43.3 overs (Rana Adnan 65, Yasir Ajmal 46; Aqeel Ahmed 3-21, Hasan Mahmood 2-37).

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot Sialkot Stallions beat Rawalpindi Rams by four wickets.

RAWALPINDI RAMS 187 in 43.4 overs (Usman Saeed 46, Adnan Mufti 40; Mohammad Ali 2-22, Bilawal Bhatti 2-40, Naved Arif 2-45); SIALKOT STALLIONS 188-6 in 43.1 overs (Shahzad Malik 72 not out, Adeel Malik 55; Rashid Latif 4-37).

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad Islamabad Leopards beat Abbottabad Rhinos by four wickets.

ABBOTTABAD RHINOS 138 in 35.2 overs (Mir Azam Khan 39; Kamran Hussain 4-24, Imad Wasim 4-24); ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS 141-6 in 37.5 overs (Irfan Talib 65 not out; M. Junaid Khan 3-50).

Group 'D'

At Multan Cricket Stadium SNGPL beat PIA by 53 runs.

SNGPL 245 in 50 overs (Raza Ali Dar 56, Naeemuddin 54; Anwar Ali 4-43, Ali Imran Pasha 3-45, Aizaz bin Ilyas 2-58); PIA 192 in 44.5 overs (Khurram Manzoor 89; Raza Ali Dar 4-14, Samiullah Khan Niazi 2-42).

At Bahawalpur Stadium Wapda beat Pakistan Customs by one run.

WAPDA 256 in 49.5 overs (Riffatullah Mohmand 68, Bilal Khilji 62, Jahangir Mirza 50; Aamir Yamin 3-46, Iftikhar Khan 3-57, Jibran Yousuf 2-36); PAKISTAN CUSTOMS 255 in 49.5 overs (Ramiz Raja 133, Ramiz Aziz 50; Kashif Raza 4-53, Imranullah 3-42, Jahangir Mirza 2-27).