RAWALPINDI: Pakistan registered a 26-run win over Zimbabwe in the opening game of the three-match ODI series in Rawalpindi today (Friday).
Chasing 282, Zimbabwe, despite giving a tough time, were all out for 255 in 49.4 overs. Young pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi captured five wickets and fast bowler Wahab Riaz claimed four wickets.
For Zimbabwe, Brendan Taylor scored an important century (112 runs off 117 balls) but couldn’t give his team a positive ending. Wesley Madhevere scored 55 runs off 61 balls with the help of seven boundaries.
Earlier, a late blitz by all-rounder Imad Wasim propelled the hosts to 281, as Pakistan ended the innings with two wickets to spare. Opener Imam ul Haq and middle-order batsman Haris Sohail scored half-centuries for the host team with scores of 58 and 71 respectively.
Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chisoro took two wickets each, while, Carl Mumba and Pakistan-born Sikander Raza took one wicket each.
The opening match at the Pindi Stadium was Babar Azam’s first as Pakistan’s ODI captain. It was also the first international match to be played in the country without spectators.
