Rain ruins third ODI as Pakistan win series 2-0

LAHORE: Pakistan won the One-day International series against Zimbabwe 2-0 after the third and final match ended in no result following heavy rains at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Sunday.

Chasing a challenging target of 297, Zimbabwe were 62-0 after eight overs before a dust storm suspended play. After a brief interruption, the match resumed with an over being bowled in which the visitors added eight more runs to their total before rains saw the game being washed out.

The washout meant Pakistan won their first series since December last year when they beat Sri Lanka in the UAE while it was also their first under head coach Waqar Younis.

Zimbabwe’s brisk start to their chase, provided by the in-form Chamunorwa Chibhabha and Vusi Sibanda, would’ve fuelled hopes of managing a first victory on their tour. They had earlier lost the two-match Twenty20 series.

Pakistan pacemen Junaid Khan and Anwar Ali had been taken to the sword in the first six overs by Chibhabha and Sibanda, conceding 23 and 21 runs respectively in three overs each, as the Zimbabweans raced to 50 in 6.1 overs.

Captain Azhar Ali brought in off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez and fast bowler Wahab Riaz as he pushed for a breakthrough.

With a steeply-bouncing ball, Wahab hit Sibanda in the middle of his helmet but Chibhabha then hit the left-armer for back-to-back fours to put Zimbabwe back on top before the dust storm stopped play just after the electricity supply to one of the six floodlights poles had stopped.

After 50 minutes, play resumed with Zimbabwe given a revised target of 281 in 46 overs, under the D/L method. But after another over, bowled by Hafeez, heavy rains forced the players to come off and groundsmen running on to cover the pitch before the match was abandoned.

Chibhabha remained unbeaten for 39 while Sibanda made 28.

Earlier, Pakistan rode on fine knocks from Mohammad Hafeez (80) and debutant Babar Azam (54), recovering from a mid-order collapse to collect 296-9 in their 50 overs after Azhar won his third successive toss and opted to bat for the second time in the series.

Both the teams made two changes in their respective line-ups from Friday’s second match. Apart from Babar, Pakistan recalled paceman Junaid while leaving out Haris Sohail and Mohammad Sami. Zimbabwe rested Brian Vitori and Tawanda Mupariwa to include debutant Roy Kaia and Mpofu.

Azhar scored 46 from 59 balls in continuation of his excellent form that saw the Pakistan skipper make 79 and 102 in the first two one-dayers. Late in the innings, all-rounder Anwar Ali bludgeoned an unbeaten 38 to steer the home side to a position of comfort at the dinner break.

Hafeez and Azhar batted solidly in the first 20 overs as they registered their second 100-plus partnership in the series. Having added 170 in the opening match last Tuesday, they cashed in on another placid track by putting on 115 before Azhar, who struck four boundaries and a six off paceman Christopher Mpofu, was run out by a direct hit from Sikandar Raza.

Sikandar was also responsible for the next two dismissals when his off-spinners accounted for both Hafeez and Asad Shafiq.

PAKISTAN’S Babar Azam celebrates after completing his half-century during the third ODI against Zimbabwe.—AFP

Hafeez, who was dismissed for 86 in the first game, departed to Sikandar’s first delivery of the match when he was adjudged leg-before by umpire Ahsan Raza for a run-a-ball 80 that included eight fours and one six, a massive blow off leg-spinner Graeme Cremer.

Pakistan suffered further setbacks when Asad and Shoaib Malik in the space of seven runs. Asad was gone in a soft manner when he tamely offered Sean Williams a simple chance at midwicket for a 25-ball 16.

The in-form Malik (3) misjudged a second run and became victim of a fine throw from Mpofu in the deep to the wicket-keeper Richmond Mutumbami with the former captain well short of the crease

Babar, the 20-year-old playing his first international, took

his time to settle down while sharing a useful stand of 38 with Sarfraz Ahmed.

But with the total on 196, Sarfraz provided Sikandar his third wicket, caught at midwicket by Williams. The Pakistan vice-captain struck 25 off 23 balls with the help of three boundaries.

Hammad Azam made little impression during his brief stay before he went for a wild heave but completely missed the line and was bowled by Cremer for four.

At that stage, it seemed Pakistan might even struggle to reach a competitive score but Babar and Anwar restored parity in stand worth 45 to help the home side get past 250.

Babar’s 60-ball innings ended in the 47th over he played Mpofu on to his stumps after striking four fours.

Anwar then opened up when he twice smashed Tinashe Panyangara for sixes over wide long on. Wahab Riaz also joined in with a meaty blow off Mpofu over the midwicket fence as he and Anwar collected 28 runs in quick time.

Wahab perished after making 13 but Anwar remained unbeaten with his 23-ball knock containing two sixes and one four. Sikandar ended with three for 59 and Panyangara took two for 50.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Sikandar 80

Azhar Ali run out 46

Asad Shafiq c Williams b Sikandar 16

Babar Azam b Mpofu 54

Shoaib Malik run out 3

Sarfraz Ahmed c Williams b Sikandar 25

Hammad Azam b Cremer 4

Anwar Ali not out 38

Wahab Riaz c Mutumbami b Mpofu 13

Yasir Shah run out 0