Pakistan win first ODI against Zimbabwe

LAHORE: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 41 runs in the first ODI here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday taking 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Pakistan scored 375 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in a rare display of brilliant batting and later restricted the visitors on 334/5 in full 50 overs.

The one-day international was the first to be played on home soil in six years.

Shoaib Malik, playing his first one-day after two years, notched a 76-ball 112 with 12 fours and two sixes after Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch.

He was given "man of the match" award for his first ODI century in six years.

Malik built on a confident 170-run opening stand between Mohammad Hafeez (86) and skipper Azhar Ali (79) as Pakistan improved on their previous best total against Zimbabwe of 349 at Jamaica in 2007.

His first hundred in 31 innings and since September 2009 came off 70 balls as Pakistan added 112 in the last ten overs.

Malik, 33, was dismissed off the last delivery, caught in the covers off Tinashe Panyangara.

He had been part of a 201-run stand with Haris Sohail (89 not out), a new record for the third wicket against Zimbabwe beating the 145 runs which Javed Miandad and Amir Sohail put on at Hobart in 1992.

Pakistan won the T20 series 2-0 Sunday in front of a packed audience of 27,000 at Gaddafi stadium, but will be far from happy over the manner of both wins which saw them nearly snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

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End of Live Updates

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Masakadza goes after scoring run-a-ball 73

Shoaib Malik gets dangerous Masakadza caught at deep mid-wicket by Hammad Azam on run-a-ball 73. Zimbabwe are now 189/3 after 32.5 overs.

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Chigumbura reaches 50 after hitting 3 fours in a row

Skipper Elton Chigumbura has upped the ante hitting 3 fours in as many deliveries from Mohammad Sami and reached his half-century in 52 balls. Zimbabwe need 205 more runs with 8 wickets and 18.5 overs remaining.

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Required run rate goes over 10 as Maskadza reach 50

Zimbabawe are 145/2 after 27.3 overs with Masakadza on 50 (56) and Chigumbura 30 (40) and need another 232 runs with 8 wickets and 22.3 overs remaining at 10.34 runs per over.

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More clicks from Gaddafi Stadium

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Chigumbura, Maskadza at the crease



Zimbabwe's key batsmen, captain Elton Chigumbura and Hamilton Maskadza are now battling it out for their team chasing 376-run target set by Pakistan. Zimbabwe require another 298 runs with 8 wickets and 34 overs remaining.

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Wahab strikes, gets Sibanda

Pakistan's ace fast bowler Wahab Riaz gets Pakistan's second wicket. Sibanda undone by brisk pace by Wahab, scooping it straight up in the air for an easy catch for Wahab on his own bowling. Zimabawe are now 66/2 after 13.3 overs.

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Anwar Ali gets 1st breakthrough

Pacer Anwar Ali has given Pakistan its first breakthrough getting the wicket of sikandar Raza, who scored 36 (31). Zimabawe are 56/1 after 9.4 overs.

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Zimbabwe reach 50 in 9 overs

Zimbabwe openers Sibanda and Sikandar have given their team a steady start scoring 50 runs in 9 overs with 5.5 run rate. required RR is 7.90.

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Some clicks from Pakistani innings

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Sibanda, Sikandar begin Zimbabwe reply

Vusi Sibanda and Sikandar Raza are opening for Zimbabwe chasing a massive target of 376 runs in 50 overs.

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Pakistan score 375/3 in full 50 overs

Shoaib Malik gave away his wicket on the very last ball of the Pakistani innings after completing 200-run partnership with Haris Sohail, who remained not out on 89 off 66 deliveries.

Malik was caught Masakadza bowled Panyangara for 112 in just 76 balls with 12 fours and 2 huge sixes.

The two middle-order batsmen played brilliantly helping Pakistan set a daunting 376 runs target for the visitors.

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Malik scores brilliant hundred

Shoaib Malik has completed a brilliant century in just 70 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes. Pakistan are now 361/2 after 48.2 overs.

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Pakistan cross 350 in 48th over

Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail are looking good to complete their centuries as Pakistan are now 356/2 after 48 overs. Malik is on 97(68) and Sohail is batting at 85(62).

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Haris makes 50 as well

Haris Sohail has reached his half-century in 47 deliveries. Pakistan are 309/2 after 44 overs.

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Pakistan cross 300-run mark

300 up for Pakistan with a huge six from Malik in 43 overs. He is batting on 84 (57) with 9 fours and a six. Haris Sohail is not out at 46 off 45 deliveries.

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Malik crosses 50-run mark

Shoaib Malik reaches 50 off 44 deliveries with 5 fours and a six. Pakistan are looking good at 255/2 after 39.1 overs.

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200 up for Pakistan with huge six from Malik

Shoaib Malik hits a massive straight six as Pakistan cross 200-run mark with two wickets down at the end 33rd over. Malik is playing on 17(22) and so is Haris Sohail on 18 deliveries.

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Hafeez gone

After an explosive start the Pakistani openers fell in quick succession. After Skipper Azhar Ali, Hafeez fell for 86 off 83 deliveries. Haris Sohail comes into bat at No.4

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First wicket falls

Zimbabwe finally get a breakthrough as the first wicket falls. Skipper Azhar Ali feel for 79 off 76 deliveries. Shoiab Malik comes in at No.3

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150 opening stand

Pakistan’s opening stand reached 150 in the 25th over with Hafeez smashing consecutive sixes.

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50 for Hafeez

M.Hafeez scored his 50 in the 21st over as the opening pair have settled in against the Zimbabwe bowling lineup.

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Pakistan 114/0 after 20

Pakistan are 114 for the loss of no wickets at the end of 20 overs. After a slow start the opening pair of Hafeez and Azhar Ali have picked up the run rate to 5.7/over.

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100 partnership

The opening pair of Azhar Ali and M. Hafeez came up in the 18th over. Pakistan 103/0 at the end of 18 overs.

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Skipper gets his 50

Skipper Azhar Ali scored his 50 as Pakistan are 96/0 at the end of 17 overs.

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Pakistan pick up pace

The Pakistani batsmen have picked up the pace as the opening pair started finding the boundary.

The fifty partnership came up in the 11th over.

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Policeman caught selling tickets in black

A policeman was caught on camera selling tickets of the match in black outside the stadium. The policeman was selling tickets priced at Rs500 for Rs1500.

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Pakistan off to a cautious start

Pakistan off to a cautious start as the opening pair has scored eight runs in the first five overs.

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Azhar, Hafeez open batting for Pakistan

Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez are opening the batting for Pakistan. This is the first time the two are playing together as an opening pair.

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Pakistan win toss bat first

Skipper Azhar Ali won the toss and elected to bat first. Azhar Ali said this was a good batting track and the team would look to put a good score on the board.

“Cricket comes home. It does not get better than this. It is an emotional moment for me as well playing in front of the home crowd.”

Ali added that Hamad Azam and Shoaib Malik had been included in the squad.



Playing XI

Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Hammad Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Anwar Ali


Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams