KARACHI, Dec 13: Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik led from the front to guide Punjab Stallions to a comprehensive 98-run victory over Federal Areas Leopards in the RBS Pentangular Cup one-day cricket tournament’s opening match at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Saturday.

According to the details available, Malik, who is the Stallions captain, bludgeoned a scintillating 86 off just 60 deliveries against a virtual Pakistan bowling attack that included Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Yasir Arafat and Saeed Ajmal.

Malik hammered eight fours and a six as the Stallions amassed 305 for eight after Shoaib Akhtar, the Federal Areas Leopards captain, chose to field first.

Apart from Malik, later adjudged Man-of-the-Match, opener Azhar Ali batted well to hit a 90-ball 75 that featured seven fours and a six. Pakistan opener Salman Butt spanked six boundaries in scoring 39 off 60 balls as he and Azhar gave the Stallions a fine start of 91.

Nasir Jamshed made 40 off 48 balls with the aid of two hits to the fence while Kamran Akmal scored a 22-ball 23.

Sohail Tanvir was easily the pick of the Leopards’ bowlers with figures of four for 54 in 10 overs, including the prized scalp of Malik. Shoaib Akhtar conceded 54 in his nine overs, but the speedster grabbed the wickets of Nasir and Umar Akmal.

The Leopards, in reply, lost wickets steadily until they were dismissed for 207 in the 43rd over. Barring Afaq Raheem, who made 55 off 67 deliveries with six boundaries, all the other batsmen never really got going.

Young paceman Mohammad Talha took two early wickets before the spinners struck. Malik claimed two for 51 in 10 overs to complete a grand double. Slow left-armer Abdur Rehman captured two for 64 before leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad finished off the game with three quick wickets.

The tournament’s remaining 10 games, including the final, will be played at the National Stadium here with Sindh Dolphins taking on Balochistan Bears on Sunday.

Scoreboard

PUNJAB STALLIONS:

Salman Butt c Umar b Yasir 39

Azhar Ali c Yasir b Babar 75

Nasir Jamshed c Salman b Shoaib 40

Shoaib Malik c Rao Iftikhar b Sohail 86

Kamran Akmal b Sohail 23

Umar Akmal c Yasir b Shoaib 9

Mansoor Amjad b Sohail 9

Abdur Rehman c Shoaib b Sohail 0

Sarfraz Ahmed not out 2

Mohammad Talha not out 7

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-12, NB-2) 15

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 305

FALL OF WKTS: 1-91, 2-152, 3-192, 4-264, 5-283, 6-287, 7-294, 8-295.

DID NOT BAT: Wahab Riaz

BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 9-0-54-2 (5w); Sohail Tanvir 10—1-54-4 (2nb, 4w); Rao Iftikhar 8-0-49-0; Yasir Arafat 9-0-61-1 (1w); Saeed Ajmal 10-0-62-0 (1w); Babar Naeem 4-0-24-1 (1w).

FEDERAL AREAS LEOPARDS:

Raheel Majeed c Salman b Talha 24

Umair Khan c Mansoor b Shoaib 24

Umar Amin c Kamran b Talha 18

Afaq Raheem b Rehman 55

Babar Naeem c Mansoor b Shoaib 16

Yasir Arafat c Salman b Rehman 24

Sohail Tanvir c Rehman b Mansoor 15

Mohammad Salman c Sarfraz b Mansoor 3

Rao Iftikhar not out 11

Shoaib Akhtar run out 0

Saeed Ajmal st Kamran b Mansoor 4

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-5, NB-1) 13

TOTAL (all out, 42.5 overs) 207

FALL OF WKTS: 1-34, 2-60, 3-96, 4-145, 5-154, 6-188, 7-188, 8-199, 9-201.

BOWLING: Sarfraz Ahmed 8-0-37-0; Mohammad Talha 6-0-23-2 (3w); Wahab Riaz 6-0-21-0 (2w); Shoaib Malik 10-0-51-2; Abdur Rehman 10-0-64-2; Mansoor Amjad 3.5-1-14-3 (1nb).RESULT: Punjab Stallions won by 98 runs.

UMPIRES: Iftikhar Malik and Nadeem Ghauri.

MATCH REFEREE: Khalid Niazi.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shoaib Malik.

SUNDAY’S FIXTURE: Sindh Dolphins v Balochistan Bears at National Stadium, Karachi.