Zim beat Pak by 80 runs on DLS

Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan in the first one-day international (ODI) by 80 runs on The Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method on Sunday at Bulawayo.

The visitors were 60-6 in the 21st over when rain interrupted the play with captain Mohammad Rizwan (19) and Aamer Jamal – yet to go off the mark – were on the crease.

No more play was possible as umpires called off the game after the last inspection with Zimbabwe were 80 runs ahead.

Pacer Blessing Muzarabani provided an early breakthrough, but catching Abdullah Shafique leg before wicket as he tried to work it away behind square. He scored just one.

Sami Ayub was the next better, who walked back to the hut after scoring just 11. At that stage Pakistan were 17-2.

Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Rizwan showed some resilience with the bat before, Sean Williams provided a crucial breakthrough. Ghulam departed after scoring 17.

Vice-captain Agha Salman and debutant Haseebullah fell miserably for just four and zero respectively to reduce Pakistan to 58-6 in 19 overs.

Sikandar Raza who kept Zimbabwe alive in the contest the bat was adjudged player of the match.

Earlier, Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bowl first under overcast skies at the Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo.

The hosts got off to a flying start to their innings as openers Joylord Gumbie and Tadiwanashe Marumani notched up 40 runs inside six overs.

The strong opening partnership, however, had an agonizing end as Gumbie was run out after a mix-up in the sixth over. He scored 15 off 17 deliveries, hitting three boundaries.

Marumani was then involved in brief partnerships with Dion Myers, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams before finally perishing in the 16th over with the scoreboard reading 83/4. He scored 29 off 41 balls with the help of two fours and a six.

His dismissal sparked a middle-order collapse, which had reduced Zimbabwe to 125/7 in 25.4 overs.

But, a fighting eighth-wicket partnership between Sikandar Raza and Richard Ngarava uplifted the hosts.

The duo frustrated Pakistan bowlers with a defiant 62-run partnership, which was eventually broken by debutant Faisal Akram, who sent Raza packing in the 38th over.

The all-rounder remained a notable contributor with a 56-ball 39, featuring six fours.

Faisal struck again in the 38th over as he dismissed Blessing Muzarabani for a three-ball duck, reducing Zimbabwe to 187/9.

Meanwhile, Ngarva put on a notable fight and pushed Zimbabwe's total past the 200-run mark, courtesy of a resilient 10th-wicket partnership with Trevor Gwandu, who remained unbeaten on three.

Ngarva remained the top-scorer for Zimbabwe with a gutsy 48 off 52 deliveries, studded with six boundaries including a six.

Faisal and Agha jointly-led Pakistan's bowling charge by picking up three wickets each, while Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain and Aamir Jamal made one scalp apiece.

Following on from an ODI series win in Australia, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan oversees an ODI side without some of its senior players in Zimbabwe.

Rizwan said he felt the first hour would be tricky for batters, with Pakistan playing two specialist fast bowlers in Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain.

Left arm wristspinner Faisal Akram and wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah Khan make their debuts, and Aamer Jamal, who did not feature in any of the matches in Australia, is part of the side.

Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine admitted his side would have fielded first, too. The hosts field a familiar-looking side which sees Brian Bennett and medium fast bowler Trevor Gwandu making their debuts. This is the first ODI Zimbabwe play since January.