Islamabad open PSL with emphatic win over defending champ Lahore

Captain Shadab Khan put on a scintillating all-round performance and led Islamabad United to an emphatic eight-wicket win over

Islamabad United won the opening game of the Pakistan Super League against defending champions the Lahore Qalandars by eight wickets on Saturday.

Promoting himself to No.3, captain Shadab Khan led the way by blistering an unbeaten 74 runs off 41 balls after taking 1-24 with the ball. Two-time champion Islamabad cruised to 200-2 in 18.2 overs after Lahore made 195-5.

Rassie van der Dussen led Lahore with an unbeaten 71 off 41 balls and Sahibzada Farhan added a rapid 57 up front.

Farhan dominated the power play against fast bowler Naseem Shah, who returned after five months out due to a shoulder injury. Naseem claimed the wicket of David Weise in the penultimate over. Naseem's younger brother, Ubaid, had a forgetful league debut, being smashed for 15 in his only over.

Van der Dussen crashed four boundaries and three sixes in the death overs.

Shadab and Salman Ali Agha plundered 138 off 67 balls in a third-wicket stand. Agha made 64 off 31.

Lahore badly missed leg-spinner Rashid Khan of Afghanistan, who was ruled out of the tournament because of back injury.

Also, Haris Rauf, whose Pakistan contract was terminated this week after he refused to play tests in Australia last year, conceded 38 in his three overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who dropped Shadab early on, ended up with 0-31.

  Associated Press