CAPTAIN Azhar Ali led from the front with a century as Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in their one-day international series in LahoreSikandar Raza’s unbeaten 100 and Chamu Chibhabha’s 99 helped Zimbabwe set a victory target of 269, but Pakistan had few problems chasing it down as they clinched victory with 16 balls to spare.
Azhar’s 102 off 104 balls at the top of the order provided the backbone of Pakistan’s run chase and, once he was fourth man down with the total on 209, Haris Sohail (52 not out) and Shoaib Malik (36no) guided the hosts past the finishing line.
The result means Pakistan have clinched the three-match ODI series having won the first meeting by 41 runs, and they can complete a clean sweep in tomorrow’s final match.
Pakistan also won both Twenty20 internationals against Zimbabwe as the host nation enjoys a successful return to top-level international cricket in the country following an absence of six years.
Pakistan ran up a formidable 375 for three after batting first in the opening ODI but they decided to give Zimbabwe first use of the track yesterday after winning the toss.
And the visitors made a good start with Chibhabha dominating an opening stand of 83 with Vusi Sibanda and reached his half-century off 51 balls.
Sibanda was on just 11 at the time and added only two more before Mohammad Hafeez turned one through the gate to end a painful 47-ball vigil.
Hamilton Masakadza was more enterprising hitting 18 from 20 balls before gloving Yasir Shah to Hafeez at slip, and Sean Williams chipped a return catch to Yasir after making five.
Chibhabha fell agonisingly short of a maiden ODI century – and became the first Zimbabwean dismissed for 99 in ODIs – when he was adjudged to have got a nick on a leg-side delivery from Malik and was caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed. He faced 110 balls and hit 11 fours and a six.
Raza took on the baton, accelerating from a slow start to reach 100 off 84 with eight fours and three sixes as Zimbabwe finished on 268 for seven.
That set Pakistan a reasonable total to chase, and the hosts made a good start with Azhar and Sarfraz putting on 46 in 8.4 overs before the latter was trapped lbw by Chibhabha for 22.
Hafeez fell for 15 and Asad Shafiq went for 39 but captain Azhar continued, to his second ODI ton and although he could not see the job through to the end, Sohail and Malik ensured there were no late slip-ups. (PA Sport)