Malik leads from the front for Punjab

Punjab Stallions 305 for 8 (Azhar 75, Malik 86) beat Federal Areas 207 (Raheem 55, Amjad 3-14, Malik 2-51) by 98 runs
Scorecard

Shoaib Malik turned in a captain's performance to lead Punjab Stallions to a solid 98-run win over Federal Areas Leopards in Lahore. Punjab set their opponents a challenging 306 to win but only Afaq Raheem took up the challenge, cracking 55 from 67, as Malik and his spinners tied down Federal Areas.

Punjab's innings was constructed around Azhar Ali's carefully made 75 from 90 balls. He and Salman Butt put on a useful opening stand of 91, and though Sohail Tanvir was a consistent threat, Malik took over the role of enforcer from Azhar to crack 86 from just 60 balls with eight fours and a six.

Tanvir finished with 4 for 54 as Punjab's innings rather fell away at the end, but their bowlers ensured their side remained on top with two early blows. Raheel Majeed was caught by Butt off Mohammad Talha (2 for 23), but it was the spinners who really turned the match Punjab's way: Malik grabbed 2 for 51 while Mansor Amjad stole 3 for 14 as Federal Areas were dismissed for 207 in the 43rd over.