LAHORE A swashbuckling half-century by master-blaster Imran Nazir, backed by Tahir Mughal and captain Shoaib Malik, enabled defending champions Sialkot Stallions to launch their RBS National Twenty20 Cup campaign on a winning note, outgunning Karachi Zebras by eight wickets on the opening day of the tournament at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.
Imran, unable to represent Pakistan in international cricket due to his affiliation with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), proved his importance as an explosive opener in this short version of the game. He scored a 38-ball 68 studded with six fours and five sixes as the Stallions reached 137 for two off just 12.5 overs while chasing a target of 134 in this Group 'B' game.
Imran added a match-winning 96 for the second wicket with Tahir Mughal who smashed 42 off 24 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes.
Imran and Tahir came together after the Stallions had lost Kamran Younis (16) at the total of 19.
Earlier, Karachi Zebras, sent in to bat first, served well only by Fahad Iqbal (32, two fours, one six) and his brother Faisal Iqbal (29, three fours, two sixes) and Javed Mansoor (29). They were dismissed for 133 in 19.4 overs with Stallions skipper Shoaib Malik being the main wicket-taker with three for 25 off four overs.
In a Group 'A' match, also played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shahzad made fine contributions with the bat for Lahore Lions who raced to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Rawalpindi Rams.
Set 136 to win, Umar was the top scorer with an unbeaten 20-ball 39 laced with six fours and one six, while Salman hit undefeated 24-ball 30 with five cracking boundaries. They put on 58 runs for the third wicket as Lahore reached home off 14.5 overs.
Ahmed and Nasir gave the Lions a flying start of 64 in just 6.1 overs before the former left, caught by Sohail Tanvir off Qambar Abbas for a 32-ball 28, with four fours. Nasir contributed a 17-ball 32 with seven boundaries as the Lions coasted smoothly towards the moderate target.
Earlier, batting first for the Rams only Naved Malik (22, 13 balls, two sixes, one four) and Awais Zia (43, 35 balls, four fours) were the key scorers as their team were restricted to 135 for nine in the stipulated 20 overs. Abdul Razzaq took two wickets for 28 and Jahangir Mirza two for 16.
In a Group 'A' match played earlier at the LCCA ground on Monday, Faisalabad Wolves earned an impressive 101-run win over lowly-rated Quetta Bears as Mohammad Hafeez and Qaiser Iqbal recorded rapid half-centuries for the winners.
Qaiser hit 80 off mere 76 deliveries with 12 boundaries and one six while Hafeez, who also snared three wickets for mere five runs, struck a 72-ball 74 with 10 drives to the fence as the Wolves piled up a massive 218 for two in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, the Bears could only reach 117-8 in their 20 overs with opener Shoaib Khan (55, 11 fours, 36 balls) being the only notable scorer.
Wolves playing without their captain Misbah-ul-Haq, facing groin problem, made a fantastic start when Hafeez and Qaiser gave a flying start of 155. Naved Latif (36, four sixes, 15 balls) was the other noteworthy scorer.
In the second game held at the LCCA ground, opener Abid Ali and Azhar Ali propelled Lahore Eagles to a seven-wicket win against Abbottabad Rhinos in a Group 'D' tie.
Chasing 138 for victory, Abid contributed 42 (39 balls, three fours) and Azhar 40 (38 balls, five fours), adding 50 for the second wicket, as Eagles chased the target successfully for the loss of three wickets with two balls to spare. Abid also featured in the opening stand of 55 with Ahmed Dar (34, eight fours).
Summarised scores
At Gaddafi Stadium
Sialkot Stallions bt Karachi Zebras by eight wickets.
KARACHI ZEBRAS 133 in 19.4 overs (Fahad Iqbal 32, Faisal Iqbal 29, Javed Mansoor 29; Shoaib Malik 3-25); SIALKOT STALLIONS 137-2 in 12.5 overs (Imran Nazir 68 not out, Tahir Mughal 42).
Lahore Lions bt Rawalpindi Rams by eight wickets.
RAWALPINDI RAMS 135-9 in 20 overs (Awais Zia 43, Naved Malik 22; Abdul Razzaq 2-28, Jahangir Mirza 2-16); LAHORE LIONS 136-2 in 14.5 overs (Umar Akmal 39 not out, Salman Butt 30 not out, Nasir Jamshed 32, Ahmed Shahzad 28).
At LCCA ground
Faisalabad Wolves bt Quetta Bears by 101 runs.
FAISALABAD WOLVES 218-2 in 20 overs (Qaiser Iqbal 80, Mohammad Hafeez 74 Naved Latif 36 not out); QUETTA BEARS 117-8 20 overs (Shoaib Khan 55, Jalat Khan 25 not out; Mohammad Hafeez 3-5, Ali Raza 3-28).
Lahore Eagles bt Abbottabad Rhinos by seven wickets.
ABBOTTABAD RHINOS 137 in 20 OVERS (Adnan Raees 35, Mir Azam Khan 28, Fawad Khan 23; Azhar Ali 2-21); LAHORE EAGLES 140-3 in 19.4 overs (Ahmed Dar 34, Abid Ali 42, Azhar Ali 40, Khaqan Arsal 16; Yasir Shah 2-16).
