Youhana, Elahi hundreds as Pakistan take 3-0 lead in Harare

The script is similar every time: another Pakistani run feast, another impressive Zimbabwe fightback in a hopeless task, but in the end another Pakistani victory. Only the details change a little, and in this match at Harare Sports Club Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by a comfortable 48 runs.

The cloud and rain in Zimbabwe that curtailed the Sunday match appeared to have departed, and it was warm and sunny in Harare for the third of five one-day internationals. This match was another World Cup 'dress rehearsal' as far as security measures were concerned, and the ICC delegation on security in Zimbabwe was present, resulting in what most Zimbabweans consider to be an inordinate amount of red tape and inconvenience.

On a good batting pitch which could take a little spin later on, Zimbabwe won the toss and put Pakistan in to bat. After conceding two massive totals after Pakistan batted in Bulawayo, it seemed a surprising move, but Zimbabwe were apparently wary of the pressure of trying to build a challenging target against Wasim and Waqar with the new ball.

Zimbabwe made four changes to their team: out went Stuart Matsikenyeri, Barney Rogers, Richie Sims and Waddington Mwayenga, to be replaced by batsmen Dion Ebrahim and Mark Vermeulen and pace bowlers Gary Brent and Douglas Hondo, now fit again. The two bowling changes should strengthen the attack immeasurably if the two are able to shake off rustiness: Hondo for penetration and Brent for accuracy.

Pakistan made one changes, probably for rotational reasons only: Mohammad Zahid came in for Azhar Mahmood.

Seemingly inevitably, Pakistan again compiled a massive total against Zimbabwe's hapless bowlers, amassing 323 for three wickets, with Saleem Elahi and Yousuf Youhana again registering centuries. Zimbabwe did not help their cause by missing several chances.

Douglas Hondo and Gary Brent produced no miracles for Zimbabwe, both looking somewhat rusty, but as least there was not the wild and woolly bowling on show in Bulawayo. The Zimbabwe ground fielding was sharp, with Craig Evans in particular distinguishing himself on the boundary, but Pakistan openers Taufeez Umar and Saleem Elahi still experienced little trouble in pushing on at five an over.

There were a couple of hard chances missed, but the worst miss came when Saleem, on 58, miscued Brent near mid-off but Nkala misjudged it so badly that he never got a hand to it. The two batsmen scored neck and neck for most of their partnership, which was only broken at 154 when Taufeeq (68) was superbly caught by the diving Mark Vermeulen off Grant Flower near the midwicket boundary, in the 30th over.

Then, with the inevitable Yousuf Youhana at the crease, the score increased by leaps and bounds, but without the batsmen ever seeming in a hurry. This pair added 92 before a fine stop and throw by Sean Ervine on the boundary ran out Saleem for a career-best 108, scored off 120 balls - his second consecutive century. Then, second ball, Shahid Afridi pulled Brent to be caught at deep midwicket without scoring. Pakistan were 246 for three.

This was only a temporary glitch, as Kamran Akmal (24 not out) was in good form and Youhana continued his rampage, hitting a six off the final ball of the innings to finish with exactly 100 runs off 68 balls, including 8 fours and 2 sixes. Zimbabwe finished more than ten minutes over time and were fortunate not to be fined - but match referee Clive Lloyd kept his kind grandfatherly image intact.

Zimbabwe changed their opening pair completely, Dion Ebrahim and Mark Vermeulen going in this time, and it seemed to work, although Wasim and Waqar did not on this occasion appear as lethal as they did in Bulawayo. Runs came, too, with the aggressive Vermeulen making most of the running. Technically a little loose at times, he nevertheless has the ability to play really classy drives, especially on the off side. 12 runs came off Waqar's fourth over, an unthinkable occurrence at Queens, but the dream soon came to an end when Vermeulen called Ebrahim for a quick single and the latter was run out for seven; Zimbabwe 40 for one.

Vermeulen tore into Mohammad Zahid's first over, hitting 15 after being caught on the third-man boundary off a no-ball. He seemed attacked by nerves when on 49, though, taking eight balls before scampering a single before reaching the landmark for the first time in international cricket off 47 balls. Then he launched into another series of driven boundaries off Waqar and Zahid. At drinks, after 15 overs, Zimbabwe had 85 on the board, 71 to Vermeulen.

Alistair Campbell (6) then obliged Zahid with an easy wicket, flashing outside off stump to give a slip catch. The introduction of spin at both ends slowed Vermeulen down, and he escaped an easy stumping chance the ball before he was trapped lbw for 79 by Shahid Afridi's quicker ball; he faced 81 deliveries.

This brought the flower brothers together, a make-or-break time for Zimbabwe. Steadily they built their foundation until the required run rate rose to eight, and then they began their assault. Yet against such superb bowlers it was a daunting task, and they escaped a couple of close run-out attempts. Grant reached his fifty first, off 51 deliveries, then Andy followed off 69, but the required rate slowly climbed.

Grant, down the pitch, was bowled by Saqlain for 54, making Zimbabwe 212 for four after a stand of 104. Ervine holed out in the deep for 1, and Andy Flower did likewise for 63 in the same over for Saqlain. Now it was just a damage-limitation exercise: Evans (17) was bowled trying to hit Zahid out of the ground, and at the end Tatenda Taibu (18) and Nkala (6) were unbeaten.