KARACHI The first day of the RBS Twenty20 Cup saw defending champions Sialkot Stallions, Lahore Lions and Quetta Bears score wins in their respective games on Sunday.
In group B, a late charge from Khurram Manzoor and Faisal Iqbal was not enough to ensure a win for Karachi Zebras as they fell 4 runs short of Sialkot Stallions' total of 171 runs. The match seemed to have gone out of the Zebras' hands when they were reduced to 33-2 in the fifth over but a 125-run third wicket stand between Test batsmen Faisal Iqbal and Khurram Manzoor ensured the game went to the wire.
Earlier, the Stallions, which included six Test players including Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, posted a formidable 171-7 in their 20 overs, an effort powered by big hitting from captain Shoaib Malik and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq. Malik and Razzaq scored 67 runs together in 11-runs-per-over partnership that saw them go from 76-4 to 143-5. Malik top scored for his side with 67 runs off 44 balls and ensured his side reached a formidable total.
In reply, Karachi got off to a poor start as they lost a quick wicket and progressed at a slow run rate. Manzoor and Iqbal then upped the pace with a flurry of boundaries and took their side within touching distance of the target before falling to run outs off consecutive deliveries. Needing 14 runs to win off the last two overs, the Zebras fell short by four runs.
The match between Multan Tigers and Peshawar Panthers ended with four balls to spare in Peshawar's innings as they were bowled out for 124. The Tigers scampered their way to 146 after losing four wickets inside four overs. Naved Yasin's 59-run stand with Mohammad Hafeez (jr) proved to be the difference. Yasin top scored with 35 while Hafeez remained on 32. For the Panthers Jannisar Khan picked up 3-23 from his three overs. The Panthers started their run-chase confidently but were undone by Zulfiqar Babar (4-26) and were dismissed for 124.
Meanwhile the Lahore Lions versus Quetta Bears game was a one-sided affair that saw the latter scoring only 91-9 chasing a target of 197. For the Lions, Kamran Akmal top scored with 68 from 44 balls. Aizaz Cheema then wrecked the Bears with 4 for 17 from his four overs.
