LAHORE: Ahmed Shehzad blasted his way to a hurricane century as 2010 champions Lahore Lions mauled first-timers Bahawalpur Stags by 51 runs here on Saturday to set up the final of the Faysal Bank National Twenty20 Cup against Faisalabad Wolves at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The Wolves, who won the inaugural tournament in 2004-05, had to fight almost all the way before taming Multan Tigers by five wickets with an over to spare in the other semi-final thanks to Asif Ali’s disciplined 50-ball contribution of 66.

The 21-year-old opener, who is hotly tipped to make the Pakistan squad for the forthcoming limited-overs tour of India, lit up the first semi-final with a 57-ball 107 which enabled the Lions to amass 211-5 after being surprisingly sent in to bat by Stags’ captain Saeed Anwar Jr.

Ahmed’s brilliant display can be gauged by the fact that his opening partner Nasir Jamshed faced just five balls in making two in the their partnership of 41 with the rest of the runs coming from 20 deliveries negotiated by the temperamental right-hander.

In all, Ahmed, the undisputed Man-of-the-Match, struck a staggering 20 boundaries and one six during his magnificent knock.

Ahmed finally departed in the 14th over — caught at extra cover by Imranullah Aslam off occasional leg-spinner Kashif Siddique — after dominating the second-wicket stand of 96 with skipper Mohammad Hafeez who took over from where his young partner had left in a blistering 36-ball effort of 65.

Hafeez added 70 for the third wicket with Umar Akmal until he holed to his opposing number Bilal Khilji in the deep to become one of the four wickets for veteran left-arm seamer and former international Kamran Hussain.

The Pakistan Twenty20 captain was particularly severe on the left-arm spin of Imranullah and lifted him for three successive sixes in the 15th over of the innings. Hafeez’s blazing knock also included six fours.

Umar finished undefeated on 28 from 19 balls as the 35-year-old Kamran bagged a couple of late wickets, including Abdul Razzaq for a golden duck, returned career-best analysis of 4-23 from his quota of four overs.

Razzaq, however, redeemed for his early demise, by sending back Hamid Ali and Kashif Siddique with the first two legitimate deliveries of the Stags’ reply.

And although Imranullah continued his good form as opener with a 32-ball 43 (six boundaries and one six), the Stags had too much to do to spring a major surprise against a well-balanced bowling combination that the Lions fielded.

Among the later batsmen, only Moinuddin managed to carry the attack to the bowlers by emulating Hafeez’s feat when he clobbered slow left-armer Sohail Ahmed for three consecutive sixes in the 14th over. His 16-ball cameo of 33 was laced with four sixes.

Wahab Riaz, the left-arm paceman who is also in contention for the India tour, sliced through the tail to take 3-23 as the Stags were all out for 160 in 19.2 overs. Off-spinner Adnan Rasool took three for 27 in four overs, while Razzaq had figures of 2-24 in three overs.

The Tigers were restricted to 120-7 after skipper Saeed Anwar Jr opted to bat first in the other semi-final. Left-handed Naved Yasin scored a run-a-ball 46 (four boundaries) and was one of the three batsmen to be run out in the innings. Opener Sohaib Maqsood had earlier hit three fours and one six in making 25 off 14 balls.

Paceman Asad Ali led the Wolves’ bowling superbly to capture 2-17 in four overs.

The Wolves ran into trouble from the onset of their chase and when Misbah-ul-Haq fell for five in the 11th over, they were reeling at 46-4. But Asif, who adorned his Man-of-the-Match knock with seven fours and a brace of sixes, anchored his side home along with Jahandad Khan, who scored 18 priceless runs in the unfinished stand of 44 with Asif.

Results: Lahore Lions beat Bahawalpur Stags by 51 runs.

LAHORE LIONS 211-5 in 20 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 107, Mohammad Hafeez 65, Umar Akmal 28 not out; Kamran Hussain 4-23); BAHAWALPUR STAGS 160 in 19.2 overs (Imranullah Aslam 43, Moinuddin 33; Wahab Riaz 3-23, Adnan Rasool 3-27, Abdul Razzaq 2-24).

Faisalabad Wolves beat Multan Tigers by five wickets.

MULTAN TIGERS 120-7 in 20 overs (Naved Yasin 46, Sohaib Maqsood 25; Asad Ali 2-17); FAISALABAD WOLVES 122-5 in 19 overs (Asif Ali 66 not out, Jahandad Khan 18 not out).

Sunday’s fixture: Lahore Lions v Faisalabad Wolves (final at Gaddafi Stadium, 4:00pm).