LAHORE, March 29: Four goals by Shah Qubilai Alam in the last two chukkers, helped Bank Alfalah Blues, start their campaign in the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup national polo championship on a winning note, beating Fauji Remounts Whites 7-5 on Tuesday.

Bankers gained the lead (1-0) in the first chukker when Panzalo Pucchi, a five handicapper player, scored a field goal on solo effort.

Both teams missed a couple of scoring opportunities as the bankers held on the slim lead in the first chukker.

The winners managed to increase the lead 2-1 at the end of the second chukker as both teams continued missing.

Fauji restored the parity (1-1) in the beginning when Lucas converted a 40-yard penalty hit with a rolling shot.

Qubilai, struck back for the bankers to make it 2-1 when he crowned a field effort to score his first goal.

The losers, however, came back in the third chukker with different plans. They dominated the chukker and led 5-3 by scoring four goals while conceding one.

Isfandyar Ali Khan Pataudi, struck his first through a field attempt to make it 2-2 for Fauji.

Lucas put his team 3-2 ahead, for the first time, when he scored his second goal through a field attempt.

Fauji surged ahead 4-2 when Khurshid Ahmed pumped in his solitary goal and Pataudi made things further difficult for the bankers by scoring his second goal to bring Fauji 5-2 ahead. Thereafter, Bankers roared back to take matters into their own hands.

Qubilai started the bankers’s four-goal onslaught in the last minutes of the third chukker, converting a spot penalty near the goalpost to reduce the margin 5-3. It was his second goal.

In the fourth chukker, Bankers added two goals to level the score 5-5.

First Qubilai scored his third and then his brother Shamyl added another through another field try, as Fauji had failed to score in the chukker.

In the fifth chukker, the bankers maintaining the pace of attack added two more goals to seal the fate of the match.

Qubilai scored his fourth converting a 60 yard-penalty hit while Pucchi his second to complete the scoring.

Teams:

Bank Alfalah (Blues): Usman Haye (2), Panzalo Pucchi (5), Shah 3 Shamyl Alam (4), Shah Qubilai Alam (3).

Fauji Remounts (Whites): Sufi Aamir (1), Isfandyar Ali Khan Pataudi (3), Khurshid Ahmed (3), Lucas (7).