BULAWAYO: Sikandar Raza’s all-round show helped Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by 80 runs in a rain-shortened One-day International here at the Queens Sports Club on Sunday.

Chasing a moderate-looking total of 206, Pakistan’s batting collapsed badly. After 21 overs, the tourists were struggling at 60 for 6, and the match was concluded due to rain and Zimbabwe were declared winners on Duckworth-Lewis Method (DLS).

Pakistan openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique (one) didn’t last long as the latter was caught behind by Tadiwanashe Marumani off pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani at the total of 11 runs.

Muzarabani earned his second wicket at a total of 17 when Saim (11) was caught by Marumani in the fifth over. Left-handed Saim was soon followed by Kamran Ghulam (17 off 28) who was sent back to the pavilion by veteran slow left-arm orthodox spinner Sean Williams.

Pakistan’s run-rate kept slowing down as the match progressed. At 49-3 in the 16th over, vice-captain Salman Ali Agha (four) was trapped in front by experienced off-spinner Sikandar who cleaned up Haseebullah for a duck. Pakistan were now tottering at 60 for 6 when rain arrived. Captain Mohammad Rizwan (19 off 43) and Aamer Jamal (zero off five) were at the crease when the action ended due to rain.

Earlier after being sent in to bat, Zimbabwe’s openers attempted an aggressive start but faltered. At the total of 40, Joylord Gumbie was run out for 15 by Abdullah while Dion Myers contributed only eight.

While captain Craig Ervine (six), Tadiwanashe Marumani (29), Sean Williams (23), Brian Bennett (20) made some contribution, Brandon Mavuta (one) and Muzarabani (zero) fell cheaply.

After the hosts were restricted to 125-7 in the 26th over, a crucial 62-run partnership between Sikandar and Richard Ngarava revived Zimbabwe’s innings to some extent. Sikandar made 39 off 56 with the aid of six fours before falling to left-arm wrist spinner Faisal Akram while Ngarava top-scored with 48 off, including five fours and a six. He was bowled by paceman Mohammad Hasnain

For Pakistan, Salman and Faisal each took three wickets each while pacers Haris Rauf, Aamer Jamal and Hasnain claimed one wicket apiece.

Sikandar was named player-of-the-match.

Aamer, wicket-keeper/batter Haseebullah and Faisal made their ODI debut.

The second ODI will be played on Tuesday at the same venue.

Pakistan came to Zimbabwe after upsetting Aust­ralia 2-1 in a three-match ODI series Down Under. Rizwan led the national team for the first time on this tour on which the tourists were swept 3-0 in a T20 International rubber.

SCOREBOARD

ZIMBABWE:

J. Gumbie run out15

T. Marumani c Rizwan b Salman29

D. Myers c Haseebullah b Salman8

C. Ervine c Saim b Haris6

S. Williams c Rizwan b Salman23

S. Raza c Abdullah b Faisal39

B. Bennett c Rizwan b Aamir20

B. Mavuta c Hasnain b Faisal1

R. Ngarava b Hasnain48

B. Muzarabani b Faisal0

T. Gwandu not out3

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-7)13

TOTAL (all out, 40.2 overs)205

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-40 (Gumbie), 2-58 (Myers), 3-67 (Ervine), 4-83 (Marumani), 5-99 (Williams), 6-124 (Bennett), 7-125 (Mavuta), 8-187 (Raza), 9-187 (Muzarabani)

BOWLING: Aamir 7-1-42-1 (4w), Hasnain 7.2-0-43-1 (3w), Saim 2-0-12-0, Salman 9-0-42-3, Haris 7-1-36-1, Faisal 8-0-24-3

PAKISTAN:

Saim Ayub c Marumani b Muzarabani11

Abdullah Shafique c Marumani b Muzarabani1

Kamran Ghulam c Marumani b Williams17

Mohammad Rizwan not out19

Salman Ali Agha lbw Raza4

Haseebullah Khan b Raza0

Irfan Khan b Williams7

Aamir Jamal not out0

EXTRAS (W-1)1

TOTAL (for six wickets, 21 overs)60

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-11 (Abdullah), 2-17 (Saim), 3-40 (Kamran), 4-49 (Salman), 5-49 (Haseebullah), 6-58 (Irfan)

DID NOT BAT: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Faisal Akram

BOWLING: Muzarabani 5-1-9-2 (1w), Ngarava 5-0-18-0, Williams 6-0-12-2, Gwandu 2-0-14-0, Raza 3-0-7-2

RESULT: Zimbabwe won by 80 runs (DLS Method).

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2024