LAHORE, Dec 1: Sialkot Stallions opened the defence of their Faysal Bank National Twenty20 Cup crown with an eight-wicket rout of Islamabad Leopards, while Bahawalpur Stags’ first day of top flight cricket started on a victorious note here on Saturday.

Elsewhere, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi made a welcome return to form with an even half-century to help Karachi Dolphins ease past Peshawar Panthers, while Imran Farhat and Sharjeel Khan both scored centuries for opposing sides in the same match as Lahore Eagles overpowered Hyderabad Hawks.

In other two matches on day one, Multan Tigers outclassed Quetta Bears by 10 wickets and Lahore Lions mauled Karachi Zebras by seven wickets.

The Dolphins recovered from being 55-4 in the sixth over of their Group ‘B’ fixture to reach 164-7 against the Panthers at the LCCA Ground. Opener Shahzaib Hasan began on an electrifying note with a 14-ball 33 that included four sixes before the Dolphins skipper Afridi took over to strike 50 off 38 balls (four fours and one six).

Anwar Ali also made a vital contribution down the order by making an unbeaten 27 of 18 deliveries.

The Panthers’ run chase was shaky as they lost the first four wickets for 20 runs. Captain Akbar Badshah then joined opener Iftikhar Ahmed (57 off 47 balls, four fours and two sixes) to put on 68 but Akbar was run out for 32 (30 balls, two fours) in the 15th over, the Panthers lost their way before being dismissed for 124.

The Stags owed their 19-run win against Rawalpindi Rams in the Group ‘B’ clash at the picturesque Bagh-e-Jinnah to opener Imranullah Aslam who bludgeoned 12 boundaries and two sixes in his 53-ball 89 that propelled his side to 173-5. The Rams were restricted to 154-9 in response despite opener Naved Malik’s belligerent 22-ball 51 (nine fours and one six). Kashif Siddique bagged 3-22 with his occasional leg-spinners.

The Bears were the day’s scorers as they mustered 72 all out in the Group ‘A’ tie against the Tigers at the Gaddafi Stadium. Lanky left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan took three for eight in three overs and slow left-armer Zulfiqar Babar conceded mere three runs in four overs in taking two wickets. Zain Abbas and Sohaib Maqsood then completed a memorable day for the debutants by finishing the job in 11 overs without being separated.

The Leopards collected 122-9 in their Group ‘A’ game against the Stallions at the Bagh-e-Jinnah. Paceman Umaid Asif put them put them on the back foot with three wickets, while ex-Pakistan all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan chipped in with 2-14.

Imran Nazir slammed 10 fours and one six in his 43-ball 65 before Haris Sohail and skipper Shoaib Malik saw the Stallions gallop home in the 16th over.

Imran Farhat starred with an undefeated 100 off only 58 balls as the Eagles soared to a 58-run Group ‘B’ win over the Hawks at the LCCA Ground. The left-handed opening partnership of Imran, who adorned his fine innings with eight boundaries, and skipper Taufiq Umar (65 off 53 balls with 10 fours and four sixes) yielded 168 in 15.1 overs before the Eagles made 224-2.

The Hawks made a spirited bid in their chase with their left-handed opener Sharjeel Khan smashing eight sixes and five fours in scoring 103 not out from just 66 deliveries but his heroics wee vain as the Hawks finished at 166-5.

In the day’s last match, the Lions ran out comfortable winners against their Group ‘A’ rivals Zebras at the Gaddafi Stadium.Fahad Iqbal’s undefeated 59 (52 balls, five fours) guided the Zebras to 141-6.

But the star-studded Lions encountered no problems in reaching the target with 11 balls to spare. Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez, who led the Lions in place of Mohammad Yousuf, led the way with a 43-ball 53 (seven fours). Umar Akmal provided the finishing touches with a polished 43 not out. His 28-ball knock was laced with six hits to the fence.

Results:Karachi Dolphins beat Peshawar Panthers by 40 runs at LCCA Ground.

KARACHI DOLPHINS 164-7 in 20 overs (Shahid Afridi 50, Shahzaib Hasan 33, Anwar Ali 27 not out, Asad Shafiq 21; Waqar Ahmed 2-28, Azizullah 2-33); PESHAWAR PANTHERS 124 in 19.2 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 57, Akbar Badshah 32; Anwar Ali 2-24).

Bahawalpur Stags beat Rawalpindi Rams by 19 runs at Bagh-e-Jinnah.

BAHAWALPUR STAGS 173-5 in 20 overs (Imranullah Aslam 89, Samiullah 2-27); RAWALPINDI RAMS 154-9 in 20 overs (Naved Malik 51, Yasir Arafat 27 not out, Jamal Anwar 27; Kashif Siddique 3-22, Ataullah 2-19).

Multan Tigers beat Quetta Bears by 10 wickets at Gaddafi Stadium.

QUETTA BEARS 72 in 17 overs (Mohibullah 27; Mohammad Irfan 3-8, Zulfiqar Babar 2-3, Abdur Rauf 2-33); MULTAN TIGERS 74-0 in 11 overs (Zain Abbas 40 not out, Sohaib Maqsood 32 not out).

Lahore Eagles beat Hyderabad Hawks by 58 runs at LCCA Ground.

LAHORE EAGLES 224-2 in 20 overs (Imran Farhat 100 not out, Taufiq Umar 65, Azhar Ali 28); HYDERABAD HAWKS 166-5 in 20 overs (Sharjeel Khan 103 not out, Azeem Ghumman 28; Asif Raza 2-18, Junaid Zia 2-20).

Sialkot Stallions beat Islamabad Leopards by eight wickets at Bagh-e-Jinnah.

ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS 122-9 in 20 overs (Bazid Khan 28, Shan Masood 24; Umaid Asif 3-21, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 2-14); SIALKOT STALLIONS 128-2 in 15.5 overs (Imran Nazir 65, Haris Sohail 21 not out, Shoaib Malik 21 not out).

Lahore Lions beat Karachi Zebras by seven wickets at Gaddafi Stadium.

KARACHI ZEBRAS 141-6 in 20 overs (Fahad Iqbal 59 not out, Rameez Aziz 34; Aizaz Cheema 2-21); LAHORE LIONS 144-3 in 18.1 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 53, Umar Akmal 43 not out).

Sunday’s fixtures: Sialkot Stallions v Quetta Bears (LCCA Ground), Lahore Lions v Abbottabad Falcons (Bagh-i-Jinnah); Lahore Eagles v Faisalabad Wolves (Gaddafi Stadium); Karachi Zebras v Islamabad Leopards (LCCA Ground); Peshawar Panthers v Bahawalpur Stags (Bagh-i-Jinnah); Karachi Dolphins v Rawalpindi Rams (Gaddafi Stadium).