KARACHI, Dec 15: For the second time in three days, skipper Shoaib Malik displayed a commendable all-round performance as Punjab Stallions registered a 17-run win over the NWFP Panthers in the RBS Pentangular Cup one-day tournament at the National Stadium here on Monday.

The Pakistan captain, who guided the Stallions to an easy 98-run victory against Federal Areas Leopards with an all-round show in the tournament opener in Lahore on Saturday, held the innings together after the fall of three early wickets with a responsible 42.

Later in the day, Malik made two breakthroughs with his off-spin at critical junctures, leading to a startling Panthers’ collapse after they seemed well set for victory at 142-2.In sharp contrast to Sunday’s nail-biting clash which Sindh Dolphins lost by one wicket to Balochistan Bears despite a whirlwind innings from Shahid Afridi (114 off 54 balls, 10 fours and seven sixes), the batsmen struggled for runs on a pitch that offered some assistance to bowlers.

The Stallions had limped to 36 for three in 13 overs after Yasir Hameed had opted to field first, having won the toss. Azhar Ali played on to his stumps in the third over for three.

Nasir Jamshed was bowled for 12 in trying a wild slash while not moving his feet against the left-arm seamer Samiullah Niazi. Salman Butt (20) was undone by a fine delivery from Shakeel-ur-Rehman that uprooted the left-hander’s off-stump.

Umar Akmal, who had come at fall of the second wicket, curbed his penchant for adventurous strokes as he and Malik joined forces to share the biggest partnership of the match, adding 86 off 95 deliveries.

Umar (37 off 51 balls, two fours) was bowled by off-spinner Akbar Badshah while Malik was run out for a 55-ball 42 that included four boundaries.

Mansoor Amjad provided the much-needed impetus with an impressive 44 off 49 balls, striking a brace of fours and a six, as he and Abdur Rehman (24 off 31 balls, two fours) put on 48 for the seventh wicket.

Samiullah and Shakeel returned outstanding figures with three wickets apiece as the Stallions were dismissed for 229 in the allotted 50 overs.

The Panthers lost Adnan Raees in the first over before Yasir and Riffatullah Mohmand combined well in a stand of 72 off 81 balls. Riffatullah (45 off 49 balls, six fours) was caught in the covers by Malik off former international Junaid Zia.

Yasir looked in good touch with some delicate strokes in making 57 off 98 balls (three fours and a six).

The Panthers remained on target as long as their skipper was in the middle. But Malik had other ideas. He broke the threatening partnership (65 off 97 balls) between Yasir and Khurram Shahzad (32 off 47 balls, two fours).

Aftab Khan came and went swiftly for a three-ball duck as he unnecessarily tried to heave slow left-armer Abdur Rehman out of the stadium. Malik then outfoxed his opposite number when Yasir attempted an ambitious shot in the 35th over.

Upcoming paceman Mohammad Talha got rid of Zulfiqar Jan for nine to put the Stallions back in the game. Malik marshalled his troops expertly to exert more pressure on the Panthers as the next three batsmen to be dismissed were run out.

Aslam Qureshi offered some hope, but his 32-ball 24 (three fours) was not good enough when Mansoor snared the last man Junaid Khan, who was caught in the deep.

Malik was deservingly named Man-of-the-Match for his runs and two for 38 in 10 overs.

Scoreboard

PUNJAB STALLIONS:

Salman Butt b Shakeel 20

Azhar Ali b Shakeel 3

Nasir Jamshed b Sami 12

Umar Akmal b Akbar 37

Shoaib Malik run out 42

Kamran Akmal st Zulfiqar b Aslam 7

Mansoor Amjad c Yasir b Sami 44

Abdur Rehman c Riffat b Shakeel 24

Junaid Zia b Akbar 7

Wahab Riaz not out 8

Mohammad Talha c Khurram b Sami 6

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, W-11, NB-3) 19

TOTAL (all out, 50 overs) 229

FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-36, 3-36, 4-122, 5-131, 6-136, 7-184, 8-211, 9-217.

BOWLING: Samiullah Niazi 10-2-39-3 (2nb); Shakeel-ur-Rehman 10-4-23-3 (3w); Junaid Khan 10-0-49-0 (1nb, 2w); Aslam Qureshi 10-0-60-1; Akbar Badshah 8-0-38-2 (4w); Khurram Shahzad 2-0-15-0.

NWFP PANTHERS:

Adnan Raees c Kamran b Talha 4

Yasir Hameed b Malik 57

Riffatullah Mohmand c Malik b Junaid 45

Khurram Shahzad lbw b Malik 32

Aftab Khan c Umar b Rehman 0

Zulfiqar Jan b Talha 9

Akbar Badshah run out 12

Aslam Qureshi not out 24

Shakeel-ur-Rehman run out 2

Samiullah Niazi run out 3

Junaid Khan c Salman b Mansoor 13

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-5, NB-5) 11

TOTAL (all out, 49.5 overs) 212

FALL OF WKTS: 1-5, 2-77, 3-142, 4-143, 5-150, 6-169, 7-169, 8-175, 9-183.

BOWLING: Mohammad Talha 10-0-53-2 (2nb, 1w); Wahab Riaz 7-0-33-0 (1nb, 1w); Junaid Zia 5-0-27-1 (2w); Abdur Rehman 10-0-33-1; Shoaib Malik 10-1-38-2 (1nb, 1w); Mansoor Amjad 7.5-0-27-1 (1nb).

RESULT: Punjab Stallions won by 17 runs.

UMPIRES: Nadeem Ghauri and Iftikhar Malik.

TV UMPIRE: Rasheed Bhatti.

MATCH REFEREE: Ishtiaq Ahmed.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shoaib Malik.

TUESDAY’S FIXTURE: Balochistan Bears v Federal Areas Leopards.