Rawalpindi, Apr 12 (Reporter) Defending champions Islamabad United made a winning start in the opening match of the 2025 Pakistan Super League, defeating Lahore Qalanders by eight wickets. Colin Munro hit 59 runs from 42 balls to chase down a target of 140 with 14 balls to spare. Abdullah Shafique anchored the Qalanders innings from number three, striking a 38-ball 66 that featured six fours and three sixes, the BBC reported. He was one of only four Qalanders batters to make double figure and he held out until the 19th over when he became the penultimate wicket to fall, caught by Colin Munro off the bowling of Naseem Shah. Former West Indies captain Jason Holder starred with the ball for Islamabad, taking 4-26 including the wickets of Jahandad Khan and David Wiese with consecutive balls. Meanwhile Pakistan spinner Shadab Khan took 3-25, removing England's Sam Billings for a duck and having Haris Rauf stumped to end the Qalanders innings with four balls early. Asif Afridi bowled United States batter Andries Gous early in the Islamabad reply, but Sahibzada Farhan and Colin Munro added 55 for the second wicket to put their side in control. Sahibzada was caught by Sikandar Raza from a Rauf delivery for 25, but Munro and Salman Agha (41 from 34) put on an unbroken 76 to take the champions home in the 18th over...////...