Cable and Wireless ODIs: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe
St George's (Grenada), April 15: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets in the 5th match of the Triangular One-Day series here at the Queen's Park Stadium on Saturday
15-Apr-2000
St George's (Grenada), April 15: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
in the 5th match of the Triangular One-Day series here at the Queen's
Park Stadium on Saturday.
They have now qualified to play West Indies in the best of three
finals beginning on Wednesday. Imran Nazir the new Pakistan opener
scored a unbeaten 105 with the help of 10 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Final score: Zimbabwe 204 for 7 (50 overs), Pakistan 205 for 4 (43.1
overs).
Earlier Report: Zimbabwe 204/7 after fine start
St George's (Grenada), April 15: Pakistan have been set a target shade
over four runs an over after restricting Zimbabwe to 204 for seven in
50 overs in the tri-series match at the Queen's Park Stadium here on
Saturday.
Pakistan were able to contain the Zimbabwe innings to a minimum was
due mainly through some good economical bowling by spinners Mushtaq
Ahmed and Arshad Khan, who were well assisted by all-rounder Abdur
Razzaq. Mushtaq claimed one for 27, Arshad three for 43 and Abdur
Razzaq was as much steady with two for 32.
Zimbabwe were provided an excellent start by openers Neil Johnson and
Craig Wishart after captain Andy Flower won the toss and decided to
bat first. The openers put on 84 runs at about four runs an over to
leave a launching pad to build on to for the rest of the batsmen. But
once the two departed things started to slow down for Zimbabwe and the
rest except Murray Goodwin were unable to pierce the gap regularly to
increase the run rate.
Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis bowled to a poor line in their first
spells, conceding 27 and 21 runs respectively in their first six
overs. The run rate started to slacken after Razzaq and Mushtaq were
brought on. In the 23rd over Razzaq had Wishart caught at mid-wicket
by Younis Khan to break the opening stand. Wishart made 45 off 69
balls with three fours.
The next to go was Stuart Carlisle when Arshad forced him back and
bowled him for five. Not much later Arshad took a catch off Mushtaq
Ahmed at short mid-wicket to dismiss Johnson who made an attractive 43
off 94 balls with four fours.
Andy Flower and Goodwin came together in a fourth wicket stand of
59. Goodwin was caught by substitute Shoaib Malik at short third man
off a top edge as he went for a big hit for 35. Arshad, bowling a
tight line, plucked a catch off his own bowling when Andy Flower was
31.
From 177 for three in the 44th over, Zimbabwe failed to force the pace
as they kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. On a slow wicket
and heavy outfield, however, the target would not be as easy as
Pakistan may think because Zimbabwe are a good fielding side.