Zimbabwe tour: Hafeez steers Pakistan to 90-run win

Batsman scores century as tourists level series 1-1 in second ODI.

HARARE:

An unbeaten 136 from Mohammad Hafeez laid the platform for Pakistan as they beat Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second One-Day International (ODI) in Harare yesterday. 

A confident batting display, with just one half-chance offered to the home side, saw Hafeez anchor a high-scoring game as Pakistan made 299 for four off their 50 overs.

In reply, Zimbabwe fell well short but only after a promising partnership between captain Brendan Taylor and Malcolm Waller was broken with another 100 runs required off the last 11 overs.

The three-match series is now tied a 1-1 after Zimbabwe recorded their first win over Pakistan in 15 years on Tuesday.

Hafeez reached his second highest score in one-day cricket off 130 balls and was he ably supported by Umar Amin (59) and a late cameo from the swashbuckling Shahid Afridi.

Pakistan upped their scoring rate considerably towards the end of the innings as Afridi smashed an unbeaten 39 off 23 balls, setting Zimbabwe the target of a run per ball to win.

“We wanted to win comprehensively but we were looking at about 260, we never thought we’d get up near 300. The wicket was a little green at the start but the conditions improved,” said Hafeez after accepting the man-of-the-match award.

“I’m really happy scoring runs at crucial stages for my team. We knew that it was tough to bat first. They bowled in the right areas in the first 20 overs.

“My partnership with Amin was good and then Afridi blasted some runs which gave us a good score. Amin showed confidence and I was backing him as a senior, I just told him to play straight.

“We wanted to win this game and the boys showed great commitment. The pitch changed a little bit later but our bowlers did a great job.”

A fiery opening spell from Mohammad Irfan stalled Zimbabwe’s openers initially but Hamilton Masakadza (24) cut loose before a length ball from Junaid Khan bowled him.

Taylor’s application offered Zimbabwe hope of chasing down the formidable target as he combined first with Sean Williams (37) and then Waller.

But as Zimbabwe reached 200 in the 39th over, Taylor, well set on 79, top-edged a high ball that the seven-foot Irfan plucked out of the air with one hand, sparking a lower-order collapse.

We still need to improve, says Misbah

Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq said there is room for improvement in their game.

“The conditions were not easy to read,” said Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq. “This pitch looks greener but it played better in the second innings, it played ok in the first innings also.

“Amin played very well and Afridi finished well too. Conditions here improve in the second innings so 299 was a good score for our bowlers. The Zimbabwe batsmen were playing sensibly, so that was something to worry about. I was only looking for a wicket and once Taylor got out, there was tremendous pressure on them to score over 10-per-over.

“We hope to put a good show on Saturday and we really need to improve in the next game.”

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor was delighted with the fight his team showed.

“The wicket played better than we thought it would,” he said. “Their batsmen played very well. It was all about wickets in hand, we had a chance but they came back strong as expected.

“We had the momentum and self-belief from the last game. There are areas to improve on. The first game did us wonders but we’ll have to produce something good now.”

The third and deciding match is also at the Harare Sports Club tomorrow.

Correction: Earlier version of the story wrongly stated that Hafeez played 205 balls, instead of 130 balls.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2013.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.