Shoaib Malik's 86 was the focal point for Punjab's comprehensive victory over Federal Areas in the RBS One day opener against The Federal Areas team in Lahore.

Shoaib Malik's 86 was the focal point for Punjab's comprehensive victory over Federal Areas in the RBS One day opener against The Federal Areas team in Lahore.

Looking through the Federal Areas bowling lineup it would have been hard to predict that the team would lose to Punjab by over 100 runs, but that is exactly what transpired at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.

Batting first the very powerful Lahore lineup made 305 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs with Malik making 86 and being given good support from Azhar Ali with 75, Salman Butt 39, Nasir Jamshed 40 and a came of 23 from Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal. Sohail Tanvir was the pick of the Federal Areas bowlers picking up 4 for 54 from his allocation of 10 overs. Shoaib Akhtar managed to bowl 9 overs and took 2 for 54, but the other bowlers struggled as the Lahore batsman dominated.

Federal Areas who required over 6 runs per over to reach their target struggled and were eventually bundled out for only 207 with only Afaq Raheem troubling the opposition having scored 55. Malik capped a fine all round display with 2 wickets and Mansoor Amjad chipped in with 3 wickets. The other Lahore bowlers including Mohammed Talha and Wahab Riaz bowled steadily and didnt allow the Federal Areas batsman to ever gain any sort of foothold in this match.