Pakistan ease home against Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe 181 (49.3 overs); Pakistan 185-5 (48 overs). Pakistan won by five wickets.

It may not have been spectacular, but Pakistan's five-wicket win over Zimbabwe that booked them a Super League semi-final meeting with Australia was very efficient.

The defending champions bowled the Africans out for just 181 in the do-or-die clash and then calmly knocked off the runs in 48 overs for the loss of five wickets.

Their showdown with Australia is set for next Friday under lights at the R.Premadasa Stadium while, for Zimbabwe, there is the Super League lower-place play-off semi-final against Sri Lanka on Wednesday to look towards.

Pakistan's win was founded on their fast bowlers, just like their success against New Zealand the previous day.

Anwer Ali Khan, whose 5-34 wrecked New Zealand, took 3-25, his opening partner Jamshaid Ahmed captured 2-42 and Riaz Khail picked up 4-29.

Sean Williams, the Zimbabwe captain, said: "I did not think there was much between the teams but I was definitely impressed by Pakistan's fast bowling.

"We kept them out there chasing the target for 48 overs but we just did not get enough runs and our top order has failed in every game."

Zimbabwe's innings fell into several distinct phases. First there was an early struggle as they limped to 31-3 in the face of an onslaught from Anwer Ali Khan and Jamshaid Ahmed.

Then opener Donald `Kuda' Samunderu (46) and Keegan Meth (33) pulled things around with a fourth wicket stand of 65 before another cluster of wickets fell and Zimbabwe slipped to 136-8.

That collapse forced Sean Williams' side to draft in their super sub, batsman Friday Kasteni, in place of opening bowler Ian Nicolson and Kasteni's contribution in getting his side to a useful score was vital.

He made 22 batting at number nine and with Ronald Benade making 18 the ninth wicket pair added 39, the second highest stand of the innings.

Samunderu, Meth and Kasteni were the only players to reach 20 for Zimbabwe but 23 extras, including 14 wides, boosted their total.

Benade took two early wickets for Zimbabwe to keep his side in the game but faced with such a modest target Pakistan knew if they batted out their overs they would have a good chance of winning the match.

"We did not want to make the same mistake we did against Bangladesh (when Pakistan collapsed) so we were happy to take as long as we had to in order to score the runs," said Pakistan coach Mansoor Rana.

Ibrahim Mohammed (39) and Rameez Raja (39) both made solid top-order contributions to set Pakistan on their way before Riaz Kail (26 not out) and captain Safaraz Ahmed (22 not out) finished the match off with an unbroken partnership of 36.

Mansoor was relaxed about facing Australia in the last four of the Super League stage.

"As long as we are fully prepared then it does not matter who we play because they are all good teams and it is simply what happens on the day," he said.

"One good innings or one good spell of bowling can win a match."