Pakistan savage uninspiring Zimbabwe first ODI

Pakistan finally won a match in ODIs in 2018 when they beat Zimbabwe by 202 runs in the first of a five match series at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe handed debits to former under 19 captain Liam Roche and wocketkeeper Ryan Murray. Having won the toss they elected to bowl first.

Pakistan were slow off the blocks but had a resolute opening stand 113. Fakhar Zaman carried his good form from the T20I tri-series and made 60 before going out caught and bowled for Roche’s maiden international wicket.

Babar Zaman joined Imam ul-Haq at the crease and the pair made 5 9 before the former was out caught at midwicket by Chamu Chibhabha off Wellington Masakadza.

Shoaib Malik was looking good at a run-a-ball 22 before he edged one off Donald Tiripano to Murray with the gloves.

ul-Haq finally fell for 128 off Blessing Muzarabani but by then Asif Ali had opened his arms up and making big shots.

Asif Ali looked on course for a record half century on debut when he heaved one for Donald Tiripano to take a superb catch at long-off, Tendai Chatara the bowler. He was on 46 off 25 balls.

With 13 balls to go and 295 on board a score north of 320 looked like possibility. But Zimbabwe 13 runs and Pakistan set a mammoth 308/7.

Chatara returned 2-49 and Tripano 2-66.

Zimbabwe’s start was slow. Slow turned to disastrous as the returning Brian Chari was removed for 2 the first of Usman Khan’s early victims.

Captain Hamilton Masakadza’s poor form with the bat persisted and he was out to Usman Khan for 7.

Tarisai Musakanda and Chibhabha looked stable for their 36-run stand before flapped one to mid-on off Faheem Ashraf for 21.

45-3 became 55-5 as Chibhabha (22) and PJ Moor (2) departed.

After that it was Murray on debut who looked down the face of the Pakistan bowling and looked good for his unbeaten 32. Tiripano batting at number 7 probably shows where Zimbabwe is going with him as a possible all-rounder at international level. He made 12.

There was not much else after that and Zimbabwe were bowled out for 107 in 35 overs.

Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza said the loss was down to first the bowling in the middle as well as soft dismissals early on.