Pakistan outlast Zimbabwe for series win

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Cricket365
August 31, 2013

Triumphant in the first ODI, Zimbabwe ultimately flattered to deceive, as Pakistan clinched a 108-run win – and two-one series victory – in Saturday's decider at the Harare Sports Club.

The in-form Ahmed Shehzad made 54 and Misbah-ul-Haq's pedestrian start bloomed into a well-judged 67 in Pakistan's total of 260 for six, in which Tendai Chatara took three for 48.

Zimbabwe's chase never got going and despite 48 from Malcolm Waller, they were bowled out for 152 with 10 overs remaining. With Zimbabwe having taken the field despite ongoing reports of payment issues, there was enough to distract the home side without Pakistan posting their best opening stand of the series after being put in to bat.

Nasir Jamshed and Shehzad made it to 66, with the former occasionally troubled by some lively deliveries from Shingi Masakadza. He would ultimately depart for 38, pushing at a Chatara delivery and feathering it behind.

That brought Mohammed Hafeez, to the crease fresh from scores of 136 not out and 70 in the series so far, but he pulled a hamstring and limped off having made 12. Shehzad made it to his half-century but perished at the hands of Hamilton Masakadza, while Umar Amin hit 33 from 25 balls before offering Prosper Utseya a return catch.

Chatara then nipped any possible Shahid Afridi counter-attack in the bud as he snared him via an edge behind on seven but Misbah, who had taken 12 balls to get off the mark and was five not out from 28, finally accelerated in company with Sarfraz Ahmed.

The latter hit 22 from 13 balls as the 46th and 47th overs each went for 14. His departure saw Hafeez return and though Misbah fell with two balls remaining, Pakistan reached 260 with Hafeez finishing 26 not out.

Hafeez then removed opener Vusi Sibanda for two before captain Brendan Taylor joined Hamilton Masakadza in a partnership of 34 in seven overs. Masakadza was deceived by Abdur Rehman and stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed for 25 and Taylor made 26 before being run out by Misbah.

Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams were sent back in successive overs to leave Zimbabwe 75 for five and it became 87 for six when Elton Chigumbura was trapped lbw by Afridi.
Waller found an ally in Utseya and the pair put on 58, the highest stand of the innings, before a mix-up saw Utseya become the third run-out victim, Williams having gone the same way.

The remaining three wickets added only seven, with Waller the last man out when a leading edge off Saeed Ajmal was pouched by Rehman. Spinners Ajmal (two for 15), Rehman (two for 23) and Hafeez (two for 40) were the men to do the damage.