LAHORE: Lahore Whites and Karachi Whites made winning starts to the National T20 Cup in front of PCB cameras at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on Saturday.

In the Group A matches, Lahore Whites defeated Peshawar by six wickets when they achieved the 168-run target for the loss of four wickets in 17 overs, while Karachi Whites defeated Faisalabad by eight wickets when they romped to the 172-run target for the loss of two wickets with 17 balls to spare.

Lahore Whites’ victory was dominated by Pakistan U19 captain Farhan Yousaf and experienced opener Mohammad Akhlaq. The two added 80 runs for the fourth wicket after their side was in trouble at 48 for three.

Farhan, later adjudged player of the match, remained unbeaten on 61 from 31 balls with five fours and four sixes, while Akhlaq’s 46-ball 58 included eight fours and a six. Tayyab Tahir (17) and Mohammad Mohsin (17 not out) were the other batters to reach double figures.

Earlier, Peshawar’s 167 for nine revolved around opener Yasir Khan’s 37-ball 65 that included four fours and five sixes. Together with opener Abuzar Tariq (27), Yasir provided his side a 44-run start. For the third wicket with Waqar Ahmed (28), Yasir put on 56 runs.

For Lahore Whites, Test all-rounder Aamir Jamal picked up three for 40, while Mohammad Rameez Junior snapped up two wickets for 24 runs.

Under lights, Karachi Whites defeated Faisalabad by eight wickets.

Put into bat, Faisalabad collected 171 for seven – thanks to Muhammad Awais Zafar’s 53-ball 81 with six fours and three sixes. Awais added 34 runs for the third wicket with Mohammad Faizan, who dominated the stand by scoring a 13-ball 30 with four fours and two sixes.

After Faisalabad slipped to 57 for four from 34 for no wicket, Awais put on 70 runs for the fifth wicket with captain Mohammad Irfan Khan, who contributed a 23-ball 36 with four fours. For Karachi Whites, Saim Ayub and Mohammad Umar picked up two wickets each, conceding 30 runs apiece.

In turn, opener Abdullah Fazal led Karachi Whites’ run-chase, scoring a 51-ball 76 not out with three fours and five sixes. Abdullah, later adjudged player of the match, added 86 runs for the unfinished third-wicket partnership with Khawaja Nafay, who scored a 20-ball 48 not out with six fours and two sixes. Abdullah had earlier added 63 runs for the first wicket with Saim Ayub, who scored 33 from 25 balls with three fours and a six.

For Faisalabad, Mohammad Zeeshan and Zaman Khan took one wicket each.

Scores in brief:

Match 1 (Group A) – Lahore Whites beat Peshawar by six wickets

PESHAWAR: 167-9, 20 overs (Yasir Khan 65, Waqar Ahmed 28, Abuzar Tariq 27; Aamir Jamal 3-40, Mohammad Rameez Jnr 2-24)

LAHORE WHITES: 168-4, 17 overs (Farhan Yousaf 61 not out, Mohammad Akhlaq 58; Mohammad Nawaz 2-40)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Farhan Yousaf (Lahore Whites)

Match 2 (Group A) – Karachi Whites beat Faisalabad by eight wickets

FAISALABAD: 171-7, 20 overs (Mohammad Awais Zafar 81, Mohammad Irfan Khan 36, Mohammad Faizan 30; Saim Ayub 2-30, Mohammad Umar 2-30)

KARACHI WHITES: 174-2, 17.1 overs (Abdullah Fazal 76 not out, Khawaja Nafay 48 not out, Saim Ayub 33; Mohammad Zeeshan 1-32, Zaman Khan 1-38)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Abdullah Fazal (Karachi Whites)

SUNDAY’S FIXTURES (GROUP B):

Abbottabad v Multan (4.15pm)
Sialkot v Karachi Blues (9.15pm)