HARARE, Nov 30: Faisal Iqbal struck his maiden one-day century to steer Pakistan to a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international Saturday.

The opener scored 100 off 97 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes, as Pakistan totalled 211 for two in reply to Zimbabwe’s 210 to win by eight wickets with 14.3 overs to spare.

Pakistan lead the five-match series 4-0.

Kamran Akmal and Faisal added 53 runs for the first wicket before the former was caught behind by wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu off the bowling of medium pacer Douglas Hondo for 44 in the eighth over.

Faisal and Younis Kahn then added 156 for the second wicket in a busy stand that took Pakistan to within two runs of victory.

It ended when Younis was run out for 56 by Brian Murphy in the covers in the 35th over as the batsmen attempted a tight single that would have earned Faisal his century.

Earlier Grant Flower hit an unbeaten century to rescue Zimbabwe and gave the home team glimmer of hope of victory.

Flower, who was fined and warned over his future conduct after using obscene language during the third match of the series, made 105 not out to help Zimbabwe to 210 all out after they had slumped to 41 for six.

His century, his sixth in one-day internationals, came off 146 balls and featured 11 boundaries. Flower also featured in a seventh wicket stand of 82 with Travis Friend (48) to dig the home side out of the mire.

Zimbabwe lost their first wicket in the third over when Mark Vermeulen was trapped lbw for nine by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Three wickets then fell with the score on 13, Alistair Campbell and Andy Flower dismissed without scoring by consecutive deliveries from Muhammad Sami, who picked up 4-41 from his 10 overs.

Campbell was caught in the gully by Misbah-ul-Haq, while Flower fell to a catch by Inzamam-ul-Haq. Dion Ebrahim then chopped a ball from Akhtar onto his stumps to be bowled for two.

Sean Ervine made just five before falling to Mohammad Zahid and Zimbabwe lost their sixth wicket when wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal took a fine one-handed catch to dismiss Tatenda Taibu for a duck and earn Sami his third wicket.

Grant Flower and Friend took the score to 123 before the partnership was ended in the 29th over when Friend pushed past a straight delivery from leg spinner Shahid Afridi and was bowled through the gate.

Douglas Hondo helped Flower add 46 for the last wicket.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe