Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets to win ODI series 2-0

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan recorded their second consecutive victory over Zimbabwe on Sunday, defeating them by six wickets in the second One-day International at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Chasing a moderate target of 207, Pakistan wrapped up the game in style in 35.1 overs with skipper Babar Azam hitting a towering six over long-off.

Azam scored an unbeaten 77 from 74 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

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

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

Mohammad Rizwan could score only one run while Iftikhar Ahmed, giving good support to Babar, made 16 and remained not out.

Earlier, Zimbabwe were restricted to 206 due to Pakistani allrounder Iftikhar Ahmed's excellent bowling performance.

Zimbabwe chose to bat first after captain Chamu Chibhabha won the toss but they were bowled out for 206 in 45.1 overs.

Iftikhar 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.

Change in line-up

Pakistan had won the first match by 26 runs at the same venue on Friday and had brought in 20-year-old pair Haider Ali and Musa Khan for their ODI debuts today. The former replaced Haris Sohail who pulled a left leg muscle in the first match while the latter stepped in for Wahab Riaz, who was rested.

Zimbabwe kept the same line-up as the first match, resisting the temptation of bringing in the experienced batsman Elton Chigumbura.

The final match in the three-game series at the same venue on Tuesday.

Sunday's match is a milestone 210th ODI for Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar, beating the world record of 209 he held jointly with South Africa's Rudi Koertzen.

Aleem already holds the records for officiating in the most Test matches (132) and the most international matches (387) of any umpire.

Pakistan

Babar Azam (capt), Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Haider Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Musa Khan

Zimbabwe

Chamu Chibhabha (capt), Brian Chari, Carl Mumba, Tendai Chisoro, Craig Ervine, Wessley Madhevere, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams

Umpires

Aleem Dar (PAK) and Asif Yaqoob (PAK)

TV umpire

Ahsan Raza (PAK)

Match referee

Mohammad Javed (PAK)