KARACHI: Punjab, ZTBL and Balochistan made winning starts as the first Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Women Cricket Challenge Trophy commenced at two venues in Lahore on Sunday.

Punjab beat Federal Capital in the opening match, a Pool ‘A’ encounter, played at the Kinnaird College ground.

Winning the toss Punjab elected to bat first. They scored 114, thanks to some good batting from Ayesha Qazi, who made 39 off 32 balls with the help of seven fours, and captain Sana Gulzar whose 20-ball 19 runs included three fours and one six.

Federal Capital’s bowlers Saima Maqsood, Hina Shafiq and Mariam Hasan Shah were on call with two wickets each.

It was a pity that they lost with only captain Mariam Hasan Shah’s brisk batting of 63 off 64 balls that included six fours and one six giving them some kind of a respectable total of 94 runs for the loss of only four wickets in the 20 overs.

Meanwhile, all her partners resembled slow turtles as the girls from Islamabad lost by 17 runs.

Still, their skipper Mariam Hasan Shah was declared the player of the match.

In the first of the two Pool ‘B’ matches played at the Gaddafi Stadium, ZTBL, mostly comprising national team cricketers, had the Sindh team for Sunday brunch as they thrashed them by 117 runs.

ZTBL won the toss and decided to bat first.

They made 169 for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs thanks to the batting prowess of Kanita Jalil (37 off 23 balls, eight fours), Bismah Maroof (36 off 30 balls, six fours), captain Sana Mir (26 not out off 19 balls, four fours) and Nain Abidi (27 off 31 balls, three fours).

In reply, Sindh were all out in 15 overs after putting on a meagre 52 runs.

ZTBL’s bowlers Marina Iqbal picked up three wickets while giving away 14 runs and Sana Mir took two for three runs. She was also declared the player of the match.

The third match, Sindh’s second of the day, also played at the Gaddafi Stadium, saw them winning the toss but losing again, this time to Balochistan by seven wickets.

Sindh batted first. They were all out in 15.3 overs after putting on just 92 runs.

Their highest scorer was Khadija Chishti who got 26 off 27 balls that included six fours.

Meanwhile, Balochistan’s star bowler Elizabeth Khan took three wickets while giving away 15 runs as Almas Akram took two for 29.

The target was achieved easily by Balochistan in 17.5 overs thanks to some expert batting from Iram Khalid, who remained not out on 36 off 61 balls (three fours and one six).

She was ably supported by Arman Khan (30 off 13 balls, five fours) and Sajida Shah (19 off 23 balls).

Balochistan’s bowler Elizabeth was named player of the match.

Summarised scores:Punjab beat Federal Capital by 17 runs.

PUNJAB 114 in 18.4 overs (Ayesha Qazi 39, Sana Gulzar 19; Hina Shafiq 2-11, Marium Hasan Shah 2-15, Saima Maqsood 2-30); FEDERAL Capital 97-4 in 20 overs (Marium Hasan Shah 63, Namra Imran 1-13, Sana Gulzar 1-39).

ZTBL beat Sindh by 117 runs.

ZTBL 169-5 in 20 overs (Qanita Jalil 37, Bismah Maroof 36, Nain Abdi 27, Sana Mir 26 not out; Aimen Anwar 2-21); SINDH 52 in 15 overs (Sumaiya Siddiqui 13; Marina Iqbal 3-14, Sana Mir 2-3).

Balochstan beat Sindh by seven wickets.

SINDH 92 in 15.3 overs (Khadija Chishti 26, Zaveria Rauf 13; Elizabeth Khan 3-15, Almas Akram 2-29); BALOCHISTAN 95-3 in 17.5 overs (Iram Khalid 36 not out, Arman Khan 20, Sajjida Shah 19; Aimen Anwar 1-11, Shumaila Qureshi 1-22).