BULAWAYO – Zimbabwe thrashed Pakistan by 80-run (DLS) in the rain-hit first ODI at Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.
Chasing a 206-run target for the victory, the hosts kept losing wickets and were 60/6 in 21 overs when rain stopped play. As the match could not be resumed due to steady rains, Zimbabwe were declared the winners based on DLS.
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan was the top scorer with 19 runs, followed by Kamran Ghulam who made 17. Saim Ayub contributed 11. No other batter could enter the double figures. Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams and Blessing Muzarabani bagged two wickets each. Sikandar Raza was named player of the match.
After being put in to bat first by Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan, Joylord Gumbie (15) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (29) provided the host a solid start with a 40-run opening partnership.
After Joylord Gumbie’s run out, Zimbabwe kept losing wickets at regular intervals and was all out at 205 in 40.2 overs. Lower-order batter Richard Ngarva was the top scorer with 48 runs, followed by Sikandar Raza who made 39. Sean Williams made 23 runs while Brian Bennett contributed 20. No other batter could enter the double figures.
Salman Agha and Faisal Akram bagged three wickets each while Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain and Aamer Jamal took one wicket each.
