Zimbabwe stun Pakistan to level ODI series at 1-1
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Malik’s brilliant fightback foiled
HARARE, Oct 3, (AFP): Shoaib Malik’s brilliant fightback was foiled by bad light as Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by five runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in a drama-filled second one-day international at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Malik was left stranded on 96 not out having hauled Pakistan from 76 for six to 256 for eight chasing 277 for victory when the umpires took the players off the field with two overs remaining.
The game had earlier been delayed by a brief rain shower, but the decision left the 33-year-old batsman furious as he was denied the opportunity to carry his team across the line.
The result left the three-match series level ahead of Monday’s tour finale, and although Zimbabwe were breathing a sigh of relief after nearly letting the game slip, their victory represented a remarkable turnaround.
Under pressure after being rolled for 128 in an embarrassing defeat on Thursday, the home batsmen showed their capabilities in posting 276 for six, with Chamu Chibhabha anchoring the innings with a composed 90 and Elton Chigumbura adding the flourish with his brisk 67.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Pakistan were left to wonder whether they had underestimated their opponents in leaving out star performer Imad Wasim in order to give a debut to 30-year-old spinner Bilal Asif, who went wicketless as Zimbabwe took control of the game.
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE
Masakadza c Irfan b Wahab Riaz 7
Chibhabha c Sarfraz b Wahab Riaz 90
Chari c Hafeez b Mohammad Irfan 39
Williams c Hafeez b Wahab Riaz 10
Chigumbura hit b Wahab Riaz 67
Sikandar c Sarfraz b Aamer Yamin 32
Mutumbami not out 14
Jongwe not out 4
Extras (2b, 1lb, 9w, 1nb) 13
Total (6 wkts, 50 overs) 276
Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Masakadza), 2-118 (Chari), 3-132 (Williams), 4-191 (Chibhabha), 5-253 (Chigumbura), 6-267 (Sikandar Raza).
Did not bat: G. Cremer, T. Panyangara, J. Nyumbu.
Bowling: Mohammad Irfan 10-1-47-1, Aamer Yamin 5-0-38-1, Wahab Riaz 10-1-63-4, Yasir Shah 6-0-30-0, Bilal Asif 8-0-39-0, Azhar Ali 4-0-22-0, Shoaib Malik 7-0-34-0.
PAKISTAN
Azhar Ali b Panyangara 1
Bilal c Chigumbura b Panyangara 0
Mohammad Hafeez run out 27
Shafiq c Mutumbami b Jongwe 1
Shoaib Malik not out 96
Sarfraz c Williams b Chibhabha 9
Rizwan c Nyumbu b Cremer 8
Yamin c Mutumbami b Chigumbura 62
Wahab Riaz run out 3
Yasir Shah not out 32
Extras (4b, 12w, 1nb) 17
Total (8 wkts, 48 overs) 256
Umpires: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI) and Jeremiah Matibiri (ZIM)
TV umpire: Langton Rusere (ZIM)
Match referee: David Jukes (ENG)
Result: Zimbabwe won by 5 runs (D/L method)
Series: Three-match series level at 1-1
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