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 suffered a serious collapse. After 21 overs, the tourists were struggling at 60 for 6, and the match was closed due to rain and Zimbabwe were declared winners on the Duckworth-Lewis Method (DLS).

Pakistani openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique (one) did not last long as the latter was caught behind by Tadiwanashe Marumani, slow bowler Blessing Muzarabani, for a total of 11 runs.

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

Pakistan’s run-rate continued to slow 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 cleared Haseebullah for a duck. Pakistan were now tottering at 60 for 6 when it started to rain. Captain Mohammad Rizwan (19 off 43) and Aamer Jamal (nil off five) were at the crease when the action ended due to rain.

Earlier after being sent to bat, Zimbabwe’s openers attempted an aggressive start but faltered. Out of a total of 40, Joylord Gumbie was bowled out for 15 by Abdullah, while Dion Myers contributed just eight.

While captain Craig Ervine (six), Tadiwanashe Marumani (29), Sean Williams (23), Brian Bennett (20) made some contributions, Brandon Mavuta (one) and Muzarabani (zero) went down 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 help of six fours before falling to left-arm wrist spinner Faisal Akram, while Ngarava top-scored with 48 out, including five fours and a six. He was bowled by pacer Mohammad Hasnain

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

Sikandar was named player of the match.

Aamer, wicketkeeper/batsman Haseebullah and Faisal made their ODI debuts.

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

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 which saw the tourists swept 3-0 in a T20 International rubber.

SCOREBOARD

ZIMBABWE:

J. Gumbie runs out of 15

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 out 19

Salman Ali Agha lbw Raza4

Haseebullah Khan b Raza0

Irfan Khan and 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)

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 25, 2024