Pakistan win 1st ODI by 26 runs as Zimbabwe bundle out for 255
Pakistan won by 26 runs against Zimbabwe in the series-opening one-day international being played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. Pakistan lead the three-match ODI series 1-0.
Zimbabwe were all out for 255 runs with two balls remaining. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Wahab Riaz starred among bowlers because they picked five and four wickets respectively. All-rounder Imad Wasim also took one wicket.
The tourists, within their chase of a 282-run target set by Pakistan, got off to a shaky start when Afridi bowled opener Brian Chari (2) on the 3rd ball of the innings.
Despite a impressive century by Brendan Taylor, who scored 112 off 116 balls and hit 11 boundaries and thre sixes, Zimbabwe could not get over the onslaught of Pakistani bowlers.
Craig Ervine (41) and Wesley Madhevere (52) also stood out among Zimbabwe's batsmen.
Pakistan innings
After winning the toss, the Green Shirts ended their innings with 281 runs at the increased loss of eight wickets within their allotted 50 overs.
Abid Ali was the first ever to be repaid to the pavilion in the middle of the tenth over after scoring 21 runs. He was accompanied by Babar Azam and Imamul Haq who scored 19 and 58 runs, respectively. The next casualty was Mohammad Rizwan who fell in the 37th over after scoring a meagre 14 and was accompanied by Iftikhar Ahmed (12) in the 41st over.
With six fours and two sixes, Haris Sohail tried to stabilise the team scoring 71 off 82 balls but he fell to Sikandar Raza in the 42nd over.
Earlier, captain Babar Azam had won the toss and elected to bat.
Both teams are opening their World Cup Super League campaigns after the International Cricket Council introduced your competition to bring context to ODI cricket.
The most notable seven teams in the league will directly be eligible for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. The league features 13 countries playing four three-match ODI series (home and away).
Babar, who leads Pakistan in Twenty20s, will be captaining for the first time in the ODI format. He was appointed ODI captain through the lockdown for the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pakistan gave an ODI debut to fast bowler Haris Rauf, who received his cap from bowling coach Waqar Younis before the toss.
The house team has packed its playing XI with four fast bowlers, with allrounder Faheem Ashraf obtaining a nod before uncapped leg-spinner Usman Qadir.
Zimbabwe, led by Chamu Chibhabha, overlooked experienced batsman Elton Chigumubura for the first match of the three-match series. Fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani returned to ODI format after almost two years.
The Zimbabwe series, which also features three Twenty20 Internationals at the same venue, may be the beginning of a busy season for Pakistan who are also slated to host England and South Africa.
Yesterday, throughout a pre-series press conference, Babar said the hosts won't underestimate low-ranked Zimbabwe, against whom Pakistan have won 52 of the 59 matches in this format.
“Our aim isn't just to win the one-day series but also the T20 games [against Zimbabwe] because you want to build confidence for matches against more robust teams which Pakistan will play in the coming months,” Babar said. “But with that said we can’t take Zimbabwe easy and my message to your players is to give 110 % because we are targeting a whitewash to ensure Pakistan earn maximum points in the Super League. Every match counts since each point matters.”
Chibhabha, meanwhile, admitted that his side is desperately seeking to get to winning ways after failing woefully to be eligible for the 2019 World Cup in England and said Zimbabwe would adopt an aggressive approach in batting to combat the threat of Pakistan bowlers such as for example Shaheen Shah Afridi and Wahab Riaz.
“Unless we're able to dominate the [Pakistan] bowling, there is absolutely no opportunity for Zimbabwe to win matches. I promise we are going to play good cricket and so are not here just to compete,” Chibhabha vowed. “We have been a side which struggles in finishing matches. But there is more desperation on our part to win and win consistently. And considering these are Super League matches, each game becomes very crucial for both teams.”
