LAHORE, Oct 4: A whirlwind knock of 99 by Test opener Salman Butt was the cornerstone of Lahore Lions’ thrilling two-run victory over spirited Quetta Bears in the opening action of the RBS National Twenty20 Cup, which got underway at three different grounds here on Saturday.

The Lions, considered one of the favourite sides in this tournament under the command of star Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf, set their opponents a target of 188.

The Bears looked on course to pull off a shock win thanks to a superb 85 off 54 balls by skipper Shoaib Khan, who smashed 14 boundaries. Shoaib and his opening partner Samiullah (31) launched the chase with a hurricane stand of 50 in just four overs. But Shoaib’s heroics went in vain as Wahab Riaz fell in the last over. The Bears ultimately reached 185 for four in their 20 overs.

Earlier, the Lions skipper Yousuf won the toss and elected to bat first. His decision paid off handsomely as Salman and Nasir Jamshed provided an opening stand of 77. Salman’s 67-ball knock had 10 boundaries and three sixes. Yousuf, bidding to prove a point to the national selectors in this type of cricket, failed as he fell after making only five.

Meanwhile, fine batting by Fawad Alam (55) and Naumanullah (41), backed by a three-wicket haul by medium-pacer Anwar Ali, enabled Karachi Dolphins to overpower Lahore Eagles by 25 runs at the Bagh-i-Jinnah Ground.

Batting first, the Dolphins reached an impressive 184-7 in 20 overs with both Fawad and Nauman striking five boundaries and a six each. Skipper Shahid Afridi also made his presence felt with a 17-ball 23, cracking two fours and a six.

In reply, the Eagles were restricted to 159-9 in their stipulated 20 overs despite a fighting 53 off 21 deliveries from tail-ender Asif Raza, who hit six sixes and two fours.

In another match of the day, a gutsy knock by opener Mohammad Hafeez (62) and fine bowling by Mohammad Talha (3-26) guided Faisalabad Wolves, the winners of the inaugural edition of the tournament, to a 20-run win over Abbottabad Rhinos at the LCCA Ground.

Hafeez cracked four fours and a six as the Wolves managed a modest 148 for six. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq also made a useful contribution of 30. Khalid Usman (3-21) was the main wicket-taker for the Rhinos.

Left-arm paceman Samiullah Niazi put the Rhinos on the back foot by grabbing two quick wickets before Talha mopped up the tail as the Rhinos were dismissed for 128 off 18.5 overs.

Summarised scores:

At Gaddafi Stadium: Lahore Lions beat Quetta Bears by two runs.

LAHORE LIONS 187-4 in 20 overs (Salman Butt 99 not out, Nasir Jamshed 22; Naseer Khan 2-22); QUETTA BEARS 185-4 in 20 overs (Shoaib Khan 85, Samiullah 31,Arun Lal 29; Waqas Ahmed 2-28).

At LCCA Ground: Faisalabad Wolves beat Abbottabad Rhinos by 20 runs.

FAISALABAD WOLVES 148-6 in 20 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 62, Misbah-ul-Haq 30; Khalid Usman 3-21); ABBOTTABAD RHINOS 128 in 18.5 overs (Riaz Kail 25, Khalid Usman 20, Yasir Shah 22; Samiullah Niazi 2-22, Mohammad Talha 3-26).

At Bagh-i-Jinnah: Karachi Dolphins beat Lahore Eagles by 25 runs.

KARACHI DOLPHINS 184-7 in 20 overs (Fawad Alam 55, Naumanullah 41, Shahid Afridi 23; Mohammad Naved 3-33); LAHORE EAGLES 159-9 in 20 overs (Asif Raza 53 not out, Mohammad Ali Raza 29; Anwar Ali 3-8, Sohail Khan 2-26, Shahid Afridi 2-18).