On Tuesday at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Pakistani openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique guided the Green Shirts to a three-match series tie by winning the second One Day International (ODI) by 10 wickets.
Pakistan easily reached 146 without losing a wicket and with 190 balls to spare owing to Saim’s scorching century. Pakistan levelled the three-match series at 1-1 with the 10-wicket win, with the final ODI on Thursday at the same venue.
The left-handed hitter scored his first ODI century in 53 balls to lead the match-winning partnership. He scored the third-fastest Pakistani ODI century, behind Shahid Afridi. Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique scored 32 not out, while Saim hit an unbeaten 113 from 62 balls with 20 boundaries and three sixes.
Zimbabwe batted first and scored 145 runs before being bowled out in the 33rd over. Tadiwanashe Marumani (4) and Joylord Gumbie (5) died after poor starts for the home team. After slumping, top-order batter Dion Myers and skipper Craig Ervine briefly anchored the innings with 38 runs.
The key aggressor, Myers, was defeated by Salman Ali Agha in the 13th over. He scored 33 off 30 balls with six boundaries to lead the hosts. After dismissing Ervine and Sikandar Raza in quick succession, Agha reduced the hosts to 97/5 in 20.2 overs.
A careful 31 off 39 deliveries from experienced all-rounder Sean Williams was notable. Despite Blessing Muzarabani’s 11-run cameo, Zimbabwe added 24 runs for the loss of their remaining wickets after his departure in the 26th over with 121 runs.
Abrar stood out for Pakistan, taking four wickets, followed by Agha with three, Faisal Akram and Saim Ayub with one each. Pakistan levelled the three-match series at 1-1 with the 10-wicket win, with the final ODI on Thursday at the same venue.
