Ton-up Fakhar powers Pakistan to big win

BULAWAYO: In-form Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman hit a fluent century as the tourists demolished Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the second One-day International here on Monday.

Fakhar smashed 16 fours in scoring an unbeaten 117 off 129 balls as Pakistan romped to a 2-0 lead in the five-match series by collecting 195-1 in 36 overs against an inexperienced Zimbabwe bowling at the Queens Sports Club.

The left-hander survived two close chances. He could have been run out in the second over and then was dropped soon after completing his century.

Earlier, fast bowlers Usman Khan (4-36) and Hasan Ali (3-32) took the bulk of the wickets and dismissed Zimbabwe for 194 in 49.2 overs.

Captain Hamilton Masakadza (59), who won the toss and elected to bat, and Peter Moor (50) gave the total some respectability as the rest of the batsmen struggled against Pakistan’s seamers under overcast conditions.

“If you are in form, and you are giving your 100 percent, then the runs will come,” said Fakhar. “Today I was trying to go till the end. I tried with Imam, he was unlucky, but I wanted to stay till the end.”

The opening pair of Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq (44) shared a second consecutive century stand in the series before Imam was run out while going for a quick single.

Both left-handers sealed the game with a 119-run stand off 124 balls and played some well-timed cut shots and drives on the off side.

Fakhar, who was named man-of-the-match, reached his century off 109 balls when he nudged off-spinner Wellington Masakadza to fine leg for two runs in the 32nd over.

Soon after Fakhar had completed his second ODI hundred, Tendai Chatara floored an easy catch at fine leg when the left-hander pulled seamer Donald Tiripano’s slower delivery.

Fakhar and Babar Azam (29 not out) then hurried the run-chase by adding 76 for the second wicket stand.

Earlier, Zimbabwe’s top order again struggled when Usman removed both openers in his opening spell and then claimed two more wickets in his return spell.

Captain Hamilton Masakadza and Tarisai Musakanda (24) tried to rebuild the innings with a 62-run stand.

The Zimbabwe captain hit five fours and two sixes before he holed out in the deep in the 28th over and Hasan ripped the middle-order with three wickets as Zimbabwe was bowled out with four balls to spare.

“Tough day in the office,” Masakadza said after the game. “I got out the wrong time trying to up the game, but the target was never going to be enough. They’ve played our spinners really well, and with such a score, it was always going to be difficult for our bowlers. Hopefully we can put up a better performance, and make the series competitive.”

The third match of the series will be played on Wednesday.

Scoreboard

ZIMBABWE:

B.B. Chari c Sarfraz b Usman 1

C.J. Chibhabha c Sarfraz b Usman 7

H. Masakadza c Asif b Malik 59

T.K. Musakanda lbw b Hasan 24

P.J. Moor c Malik b Hasan 50

R. Murray b Hasan 16

D.T. Tiripano b Usman 13

L.N. Roche lbw b Usman 0

W.P. Masakadza run out 12

T.L. Chatara run out 1

B. Muzarabani not out 1

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-4) 10

TOTAL (all out, 49.2 overs) 194

FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-18, 3-80, 4-105, 5-140, 6-166, 7-166, 8-190, 9-192.

BOWLING: Mohammad Amir 9-0-33-0 (1w); Usman Khan Shinwari 10-1-36-4 (2w); Faheem Ashraf 6-1-15-0; Hasan Ali 8.2-1-32-3 (1w); Shadab Khan 10-0-47-0; Fakhar Zaman 3-0-11-0; Shoaib Malik 3-0-14-1.

PAKISTAN:

Imam-ul-Haq run out 44

Fakhar Zaman not out 117

Babar Azam not out 29

EXTRAS (B-1, W-4) 5

TOTAL (for one wkt, 36 overs) 195

FALL OF WKT: 1-119.

DID NOT BAT: Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari.

BOWLING: Chatara 6-0-34-0 (1w); Muzarabani 7-0-28-0; Tiripano 7-0-33-0 (3w); Roche 6-0-38-0; W.P. Masakadza

10-0-61-0.

RESULT: Pakistan won by nine wickets to lead five-match series 2-0.

UMPIRES: R.B. Tiffin (Zimbabwe) and