Fakhar double ton headlines Pakistan demolition of Zimbabwe

Cricket365
July 20, 2018

Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistan batsman to slam a double hundred in an ODI on Friday to set up a 244 run win over Zimbabwe.

The opener shared a 304 run opening stand with partner Imam-ul-Haq who was happy to play a supporting role to the blaster Fakhar.

Imam (113) fell to Wellington Masakadza in the 42nd over prompting skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to send in finisher Asif Ali.

Asif (50*) and Fakhar (210*) blitzed 95 runs off the remaining eight overs to lift Pakistan to 399 for 1 in their fifty overs.

Zimbabwe were never in the game during their chase, starting slowly and losing wickets at an alarming rate they slipped to 67 for 5 in the 19th over before a 69 run partnership between Elton Chigumbura (37) and Donald Tiripano (44) added a vague hint of respectability to the score.

The home side proved no match for the wiles of Shadab Khan who picked up 4 for 28 as Zimbabwe fell to 155 all out to give Pakistan theeir second largest ODI victory by runs.

Zimbabwe skipper Hamilton Masakadza said after the defeat: “Isn’t getting any easier. We were really never in the game. Fakhar played very well. It didn’t help that we didn’t field well. We fell short in all three departments today. It was always going to be difficult to pace yourself while chasing 400. You have to give yourself a look in. Hopefully, we can turn up on Sunday and play some better cricket.”