LAHORE, Jan 26: While Habib Bank Limited (HBL) staged a brilliant comeback to beat National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) 2-1, defending champions Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suffered a stunning 2-3 defeat at the hands of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on the opening day of the 56th National Hockey Championship final round at the National Hockey Stadium on Monday.

NBP drew first blood in the 27th minute when Yasir Shabbir scored a field goal after a short melee in front of the goalpost. But it proved to be NBP’s last laugh, despite leading half time with the slim 1-0 lead.

HBL, who in all got seven penalty-corner and cashed in on one, started recovery when Mohammad Zubair converted the fourth short-corner in the 41st minute with a powerful try to make it 1-1.

HBL came on the driving seat for the first time in the 68th minute when Adeel Ahmed fired home with a field goal to seal the fate of the match.

SSGC led the first half 3-1.

The winners had made a stormy start taking 3-1 lead in the first session of play as hot favourites PIA could add one goal only in the second half. Saleem Khalid gave SSGC an early lead in the 7th minute on a field attempt. Shabbir Ahmad made it 2-0 with a field goal in the 20th minute. Maintaining the pressure of attacks, SSGC had total penetrated the defense of the strong PIA as Abbas Haider found the cage in the 26th minute to make it 3-0 before the interval. One minute later Olympian Shafqat Rasool scored a goal for PIA to reduce the lead 3-1. After the half time, Shafqat again fired a goal in the 55th minute.

Two-goal Kashif Javed helped Port Qasim crush Punjab 4-1. The winners led the first half 2-1.

Kashif hit goal in the 10th and 37th minutes. Shahzad Hanif scored in the 18th minute while Usman in the 16th minute. For Punjab the solitary goal came through Muazzam Ali in the 14th minute.

Wapda outplayed Navy 3-1 after leading first half 3-0. Rana Javed (26th), Waqas Sharif (48th), Khurram Butt (60th) were the scorers for the winners.

Meanwhile, three matches were also held in the tray championship, in which the teams could not make places in the final round are playing.

Pakistan Air Force defeated Balochistan 3-1.

For PAF Saeed Shah (39th, 66th) and Kashif Yaqoob (65th) were the scorers.

For Balochistan, Owais Sadiq (11th) was the lone scorer.

Karachi Electric Supply Corporation drafted 5-3 win against Pakistan Steel Mills.

For KESC, Amir Iqbal (8th minute, 66th), Irfan Khan (21st, 29th minute) and Amir Saeed (57th minute) were the scorers.

For the losing side, Yasir Anwar (5th) M. Rauf (12th) and M. Imran (54th) were the scorers.

Two-goal Farzand Ali and Tasawar Abbas enabled Police beat PTV 5-0.

Farzand struck in the 49th and 63rd minute. Tasawar hit goal in the 45th and 59th minute. Niaz Ahmad (3rd) was the other scorer.