Pakistan Beat Zimbabwe in Second ODI, Clinch Series

SPORTS DESK: Pakistan defeated guest Zimbabwe by six wickets in the second One-day International at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and clinch the series by 2-0.

Chasing a moderate target of 207, Pakistan wrapped up the game in merely 35.1 overs.

Pakistan’s skipper, Baber Azam scored an unbeaten 77 from 74 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

Young Imam-ul-Haq made 49 and along with his partner Abid Ali (22). Both provided a solid start of 68 runs to the team.

Later, 20-year-old debutant Haider Ali played a confident breezy innings of 24-ball 29, laced with two sixes and a boundary.

Earlier,  Zimbabwe chose to bat first after captain Chamu Chibhabha won the toss but they were bowled out for 206 in 45.1 overs.Pakistani allrounder Iftikhar Ahmed’s did an excellent bowling performance and restricted Zimbabwe,  he displayed his career-best bowling performance with five for 40 in the 10-over quota in his sixth ODI match.

He is a regular middle-order batsman who also plays as an off-break bowler.

Fast bowler Mohammad Musa, another 20-year-old debutant, claimed two wickets for 21 runs.

For Zimbabwe, Sean Williams top scored with 75 and his 70-ball innings was laced with ten fours and a six.

Branden Taylor, the centurion of the first ODI, could make 36 and opener Brian Chari made 25 as no other batsman could get any significant runs.

Third and final ODI will be played tomorrow, while first T20 will be played on Saturday.

Pakistan ODI squad:

Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-Ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Musa, Rohail Nazir, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz, Zafar Gohar.

Zimbabwe ODI squad:

Chamu Chibhaba (c), Ryan Burl, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Craig Ervine, Faraz Akram, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Wesley Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Carl Mumba, Richmond Mutumbami, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba, Sikandar xBrendan Taylor, Donald Tripiano, Sean Williams