January 22, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 12, 1429

KARACHI, Jan 21: Pakistan made lightwork of Zimbabwe in the opening game of the five-match One-day International series on Monday after a record-breaking performance by their batsmen set up an easy 104-run victory at the National Stadium.

Pakistan toyed with the feeble bowling of the opponents at will to plunder 347-5 in the stipulated 50 overs, setting a rare world record of five batsmen scoring half centuries in the same match as the hapless Zimbabweans toiled hard in excellent batting conditions.

Required to chase the massive target at seven per over, the Zimbabwe were never in the hunt despite a brisk start as their innings closed at 243-7 to give them their 32nd defeat in 36 ODIs against Pakistan. The end result was indicative of the problems afflicting a team which is currently struggling at 11th place on the ICC ODI Championship table.

However, they should be somewhat satisfied by the manner in which a few of their batsmen fared despite the mounting task ahead of them. The contributions from Vusi Sibanda, who hit an entertaining 59 off 54 balls with 11 fours, Chamu Chibhabha (52 off 73 balls, three fours) and undefeated 51 off 61 balls by Sean Williams, who ensured the tourists lasted their quota of overs, must give confidence for the remaining matches.

Sibanda was particularly harsh on debutant left-arm seamer Samiullah Niazi who was blasted for six boundaries by the 24-year-old right-hander in his first spell of six overs before he was nicely held by Younis off Rao Iftikhar – the most expensive of Pakistan bowlers (1-40 in five overs).

Zimbabwe’s weakness against spin bowling was very much evident as they lost five wickets to Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, the latter making a fine comeback by capturing three for 34.

Zimbabwe preferred chasing the runs rather than setting a target when skipper Prosper Utseya elected to field first after calling correctly at the toss. But the young captain was left to rue his decision as the events unfolded in the first half of the day/night fixture.

As expected, Pakistan awarded caps to Nasir Jamshed and Samiullah Niazi while Zimbabwe surprisingly relegated the experienced Gary Brent to the 12th man duties and also left out Keith Dabengwa from the eleven that lost the four-day tour opener against the PCB Patron’s XI last week.

Apart from Utseya, all-rounder Chamu Chibhabha returned to the side, having passed his fitness tests.

Nasir, fresh from his 182 in the tour match, marked his international cricket debut with a blazing 61 off 48 balls and carried on in the same vein with two successive boundaries off Christopher Mpofu in the opening over of the series. He repeated the dose twice in two further overs of the 22-year-old medium-pacer.

The only blemish in the teenager’s first major outing was his refusal to respond to a call from Salman Butt as the latter played towards square leg. As a result, poor Salman (4) was stranded at the same end as his partner and was run out after opening stand worth 45.

Nasir, who altogether bludgeoned six fours and three sixes, soon brought up his 50 off only 40 deliveries when he lifted Elton Chigumbura over long off for a six. But his impetuosity got the better of him when a century was there for the taking. A slow leg-cutter from Chibhabha deceived Nasir into offering a high catch to Stuart Matsikenyeri deep on the offside.

The scoring rate accelerated as Younis put together 113 in 99 balls with the ever-reliable Yousuf before the next wicket fell when Younis, having scored his 30th half century, swept Ray Price straight to deep square leg where Masakadza took a well-judged catch. Younis adorned his 68-ball 79, the highest score of the match, with seven fours and one six off Utseya, who was collared for 46 runs in five overs.

Yousuf, the 253-match veteran who registered his 61st half-century, holed out to Mpofu, who took the high ball at long-off to give Price his second prized wicket at the University Road End. Yousuf’s 72 came off 74 balls and included five fours and one six off Price.

The stage was set for quick runs at the departure of Yousuf in the 38th over when Misbah joined his captain. Malik showed no signs of the ankle injury that ruined his tour of India as he sprinted 26 singles and nine doubles with ease, and in the process crossed the 4,000-run mark in one-dayers.

The 99-run stand between Malik and Misbah came off only 70 deliveries before the Pakistan captain, after making 63 off 56 balls with a brace of sixes and a solitary boundary, was taken at long-on off Chigumbura.

Misbah calmly posted his third half century at this level to remain unbeaten with a career-best 38-ball 55 that had four fours and one six.

Despite going for 19 runs in an over, Chigumbura proved to be the most economical bowler for the visitors by conceding 39 runs in seven overs. Chibhabha almost went at eight an over while Mpofu was hit around for 72 in his overs.

The second match is scheduled for Thursday at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN

Salman Butt run out 4

Nasir Jamshed c Matsikenyeri b Chibhabha 61

Younis Khan c Masakadza b Price 79

Mohammad Yousuf c Mpofu b Price 72

Shoaib Malik c Sibanda b Chibhabha 63

Misbahul Haq not out 55

Shahid Afridi not out 2

EXTRAS: (LB-3,W-5,NB-3) 11

TOTAL: (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 347

FALL OF WKTS: 1-45, 2-85, 3-198, 4-239, 5-338.

BOWLING: Mpofu 10-0-72-0 (W1), Chigumbura 7-1-43-0 (NB2, W1), Chibhabha 10-0-78-2 (NB1, W2), Masakadza 2-0-8-0, Price 10-0-61-2 (W1), Utseya 5-0-46-0, Williams 6-0-36-0

ZIMBABWE

V.Sibanda c Younis b Iftikhar 59

H.Masakadza c Akmal b Tanvir 14

C.J.Chibhabha b Afridi 52

T.Taibu lbw b Afridi 13

BM Taylor st Akmal b Malik 2

S.C.Williams not out 52

S.Matsikenyeri lbw b Malik 3

E.Chigumbura c Jamshed b Malik 15

P.Utseya not out 18

EXTRAS: (LB2,W-12,b-1) 15

TOTAL: (for 7 wickets, 50 overs) 243

FALL OF WKTS: 1-47, 2-103, 3-130, 4-141, 5-159, 6-166, 7-195

BOWLING: Tanvir 7-1-26-1 (W7), Samiullah 10-0-60-0 (NB1,W2), Rao 5-0-40-1 (W1), Afridi 10-0-33-2 (W1), Malik 10-0-34-3, Younis 4-0-17-0 (W1), Misbah 4-0-31-0

UMPIRES: Asoka de Silva (SL), Zameer Haider (PAK)

TV UMPIRE: Riazuddin.

MATCH REFEREE: Chris Broad (ENG).