BULAWAYO (Zimbabwe), Nov 24: Waskim Akram skittled four of the Zimbabwe top order for only 22 runs at the Queens Sports Club here as Pakistan wrapped up the second match in a series of five One-day Internationals before rain stopped play in the late afternoon.

But his deadly performance was equalled, if not overshadowed, by Saleem Elahi’s 107 runs in 111 balls and by Yousuf Youhana, who lashed eight sixes in his 76 runs, scored with only 34 balls as an appetiser for lunch.

Pakistan’s thrashing of their hosts, by 104 runs, was therefore comprehensive, unlike Zimbabwe’s seven-run defeat Saturday.

They built up a monumental 344 for five in their 50 overs and the weather came seven overs too late for Zimbabwe to be able to claim a no-result. If 25 overs are not completed there is a no-result.

The home team finished at 140 for six before the rain came, having been four wickets down for only 20 runs and facing the prospect of the biggest defeat in One-day International history.

Soon after the covers were over the wicket, umpires David Orchard and Ahmed Esat abandoned play and declared that under the Duckworth-Lewis system Pakistan had won by 104 runs, because the Zimbabwe target had been reduced by the stoppage.

Going two up with three to play in Harare, beginning Wednesday, Pakistan can feel confident of winning them all and completing a series and therefore a tour clean sweep following a Test double.

Zimbabwe can at least claim as a partial reason that they have lost too many front line bowlers through injury (at least five according to their captain Alistair Campbell).

The match began with Saleem and Taufiq Umar putting on 159 runs for the first Pakistan wicket. As Saleem thumped his way to his second one-day century, Taufiq coasted to his first-half century.

Pakistan entered a fairly quiet spell after this but the fireworks came near the end of the innings as Youhana, scorer of 141 not out the previous day, took his weekend score to over 200 without being dismissed.

Their total of 344 was clearly going to be well beyond the Zimbabweans. But when Wasim put out Stanley Matsikenyere, Andy Flower and Barney Rogers for ducks, the home team were in disarray.

Wasim also got Grant Flower for one. It is a rare occurrence for the Flower brothers to score only one run between them.

Campbell proved a stumbling block but Zimbabwe only made a partial recovery later on with a bright 76-run partnership between Tatenda Taibu and Sean Ervine, which restored some dignity at least. Ervine showed some classy and confident strokes in speeding to 61 not out in 41 balls.

Waqar Younis claimed just the one wicket, which put him on a career 399 in this form of cricket.

Scoreboard

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