2nd ODI: Centurion Azhar Ali leads Pakistan to series win over Zimbabwe
Pakistan captain scores 102 off 104; Wahab, Yasir bag two wickets each for the hosts
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESS
Azhar Ali scored a well-calculated century to lead Pakistan to a series win against Zimbabwe with a six-wicket victory on late Friday at Gaddafi stadium, Lahore.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first going into the match with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chamu Chibhabha gave the visitors a much needed start scoring 99 off 100 balls. Later, Sikandar Raza struck an unbeaten century (exactly 100) off just 84 balls to put up a 269-run target for the hosts.
Azhar Ali opened the innings for Pakistan and completed his ton off 101 balls to lead his team's chase. Haris Sohail contributed with 52 off 49 balls while Asad Shafiq also played a useful 39-run knock.
Pakistan have won the series by gaining an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Man of the match Azhar Ali: Good performance from the team. Obviously you want to perform as captain. It's been fabulous in both the series. All the seniors have helped guide me, they have taught me to concentrate on my game and focus on the controllables. Working on my batting, modern cricket has become fast and you need to keep pace with it and I hope with the grace of God, I can. Great effort from the boys, bowling was very good on a batting wicket to keep them to 268. Everyone knows we have a long way to go, but everyone is giving an effort. Thanks to the crowd as well.
Hamilton Masakadza: Guys tried really hard. Raza and Chamu played really well. Lots of effort out there. Thought it was a drier wicket, still 20-30 short. Don't get to play that many games, so the guys have to rally and pull something out of the hat.
Read: We have an eye on Champions Trophy qualification, admits Azhar Ali
Teams
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (C), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Hammad Azam, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Sami
Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza (C), Vusimuzi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Sean Williams, Mutumbami†, Sikandar Raza, Charles Coventry, Greame Cremer, Mupariwa, Brian Vitori, Panyangara
Pakistan 233-4 (44 overs)
FOUR! Shoaib Malik cuts it to beat the wide third man.
Panyangara.
Pakistan 228-4 (43 overs)
Shoaib 12, Haris 36
FOUR! Haris rocks back and cuts the ball through covers to find the boundary.
Greame Cremer in for his last over.
Pakistan 221-4 (42 overs)
FOUR! Shoaib Malik is on song right from the word go. Cuts it past point for a boundary.
Brian Vitori!
Pakistan 212-4 (41 overs)
OUT! Azhar Ali (102) caught while slicing at point. Shoaib Malik is in.
Mupariwa!
Pakistan 201-3 (40 overs)
FOUR! Haris Sohail goes over long-off on the last ball of the over.
Brian Vitori.
Pakistan 201-3 (39 overs)
CENTURY! Azhar Ali takes two on the last ball and completes his ton. It took him 101 balls.
Sean Williams.
Pakistan 193-3 (38 overs)
Azhar 94, Haris 21
FOUR! After playing three dot balls, Haris Sohail goes over extra cover
Panyangara bowls third over of batting powerplay.
Pakistan 189-3 (37 overs)
Azhar 94, Haris 17
FOUR! Haris Sohail goes for the long-off boundary.
Sean Williams bowls his ninth over.
Pakistan 179-3 (36 overs)
Azhar 90, Haris 11
No boundaries off it. Only five runs off the over.
Panyangara bowls the first over of the batting powerplay.
Pakistan 174-3 (35 overs)
Azhar 88, Haris 8
The centurion Sikandar Raza is brought on to bowl.
Pakistan 169-3 (34 overs)
Six runs off the over.
Greame Cremer into his ninth over.
Pakistan 163-3 (33 overs)
FOURx2! Haris Sohail and then Azhar Ali. Is this the time Pakistan shift up their gear? Batting powerplay coming up after two overs.
Sean Williams.
Pakistan 154-3 (32 overs)
OUT! Asad Shafiq (39) is caught at short cover off a leading edge. Haris Sohail is in!
Greame Cremer bowls.
Pakistan 151-2 (31 overs)
Three runs off the over.
Sean Williams bowls.
Pakistan 148-2 (30 overs)
Six runs off the over.
Hamilton Masakadza comes on to bowl as Sepp Blatter wins a fifth term at the FIFA helm.
Pakistan 142-2 (29 overs)
Three runs off his over.
Sean Williams bowls his sixth.
Pakistan 139-2 (28 overs)
FOUR! Azhar Ali goes for the extra cover boundary. Player tries to stop it but his foot was touching the boundary with ball in hand.
Mupariwa continues.
Pakistan 133-2 (27 overs)
FOUR! Asad Shafiq goes over the in-circle towards mid-wicket.
Sean Williams into his fifth.
Pakistan 127-2 (26 overs)
Seven runs off his over.
Mupariwa is brought back into the attack.
Pakistan 120-2 (25 overs)
Five runs off it.
Greame Cremer in for his seventh.
Pakistan 115-2 (24 overs)
Sean Williams gives away four runs in his over.
Pakistan 111-2 (23 overs)
Five runs off the over.
DROPPED! Azhar Ali gets a life line at covers. Chibhabha the culprit.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 106-2 (22 overs)
Sean Williams goes for four runs in his over.
Pakistan 102-2 (21 overs)
FIFTY! Azhar Ali gets his half-century off 51 balls.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 99-2 (20 overs)
Azhar Ali is on 49*.
Sean Williams goes for three runs in his over.
Pakistan 93-2 (19 overs)
FOUR! Drilled through extra cover by Azhar Ali. He is in a fine touch.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 83-2 (18 overs)
Three runs off his over.
Sean Williams is brought on.
Pakistan 80-2 (17 overs)
Greame Cremer goes for four runs in his over.
Pakistan 76-2 (16 overs)
Six runs off Brian Vitori's over.
Pakistan 70-2 (15 overs)
Four runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Muhammad Hafeez (15) caught at long-off boundary.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 66-1 (14 overs)
Brian Vitori bowls. Goes for three runs in his over.
Pakistan 62-1 (13 overs)
Two runs off his over.
Leg-spinner Greame Cremer is brought on.
Pakistan 61-1 (12 overs)
FOUR! Muhammad Hafeez pulls a short delivery towards backward square leg.
Brain Vitori.
Pakistan 54-1 (11 overs)
FOUR! Hafeez times this one sweetly. On his pads he just drives it past mid-on.
Chamu Chibhabha.
Pakistan 49-1 (10 overs)
Just two off his over.
Brain Vitori in for his second.
Pakistan 47-1 (9 overs)
OUT! He had done it! Sarfraz goes for a sweep and he is caught LBW on 22. Muhammad Hafeez walks in!
Chamu Chibhabha is brought on. Can he match his batting performance with his bowling?
Pakistan 42-0 (8 overs)
FOUR! Short and pulled by Azhar Ali towards long leg boundary.
Brian Vitori is brought on to bowl.
Pakistan 37-0 (7 overs)
FOUR! Azhar Ali pulls it to find the square leg boundary.
Panyangara into his fourth.
Pakistan 30-0 (6 overs)
FOUR! Azhar Ali goes through covers.
FOUR! Sarfraz Ahmed fetches it from outside off and guides it towards square leg boundary.
Mupariwa.
Pakistan 19-0 (5 overs)
FOUR! Azhar Ali agains walks down the pitch and slices it through covers.
Panyangara.
Pakistan 14-0 (4 overs)
Four runs off Mupariwa's over.
Pakistan 10-0 (3 overs)
Just two off the over. Pakistan off to a careful start as well.
Panyangara into his second over.
Pakistan 8-0 (2 overs)
Just four runs off his over.
Tawanda Mupariwa is given the ball by the captain.
Pakistan 4-0 (1 over)
FOUR! Azhar walks down the pitch and guides it towards midwicket.
Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed are going to open the innings for Pakistan. Panyangara has been given the ball by stand-in captain Hamilton Masakadza.
Zimbabwe 268-7 (50 overs)
FOUR! Full toss on legs and Panyangara just guides it towards fine leg.
Sikandar Raza is on 99* with three balls to get his century. He gets his CENTURY with a single. The crowd applauds his effort, the dressing applauds it. Everyone in the ground is up for him.
Anwar Ali bowls the last over.
Zimbabwe 258-7 (49 overs)
OUT! Wahab gets his second. Not such a bad day for him after all. Greame Creamer caught by Ahmed Shehzad in covers.
Wahab Riaz bowls his last and the penultimate over.
Zimbabwe 257-6 (48 overs)
SIX! Sikandar Raza goes over deep mid-wicket. Sami re-living the nightmare he lived against Chigumbura in the first ODI.
FOURx2! Twice over covers. Sikandar Raza showcasing his batting skills against Sami.
Muhammad Sami in for his ninth.
Zimbabwe 238-6 (47 overs)
OUT! Charles Coventry (10) caught behind.
SIX! Charles Coventry goes over deep mid-wicket.
Wahab Riaz is back for his ninth over.
Zimbabwe 230-5 (46 overs)
FOUR! Yorker on the off and Sikandar has sliced it over short third-man.
Muhammad Sami to bowl the death overs.
Zimbabwe 222-5 (45 overs)
SIX! Free-hit and Sikandar won't spare him. Such a deja vu. He misses a chance of bagging a wicket and gets hit for a maximum. Over mid-wicket!
OUT! Sikandar Raza caught at point. Oh no! Wahab needs to slaughter some 'sadqa bakras'. It is a no-ball. He over stepped this time. What else remains? How can you always manage something like this Wahab? HOW?
Wahab Riaz.
Zimbabwe 200-4 (43 overs)
Double century up for the Zimbabwe team as well.
Two runs and FIFTY up for Sikandar Raza.
Muhammad Hafeez bowls his sixth.
Zimbabwe 197-4 (42 overs)
FOUR! Full-toss on Sikandar Raza's legs and he chips it towards backward square leg.
Anwar Ali bowls his seventh over.
Zimbabwe 190-4 (41 overs)
Just three runs off his over.
Muhammad Hafeez is back to operate.
Zimbabwe 187-4 (40 overs)
FOUR! Short and pulled by Sikandar Raza towards mid-wicket boundary.
Wahab Riaz runs in for the last over of the batting powerplay.
Zimbabwe 180-4 (39 overs)
FOUR! Length ball and Sikandar Raza just stands and delivers it through covers.
Anwar Ali is back for the powerplay overs.
Zimbabwe 173-4 (38 overs)
Just two runs off his over. Six over for only 23 runs. That is impressive from Wahab.
Wahab Riaz is back!
Zimbabwe 171-4 (37 overs)
SIX! Sikandar rocks it over mid-off fielder.
Shoaib Malik continues.
Zimbabwe 161-4 (36 overs)
RUN OUT chance! Mutumbami's foot is stuck in the ground and he has to jump to make it in. The ball hits the stumps directly. Umpire refers to the third umpire who says he is safe.
Hammad Azam bowls his third.
Zimbabwe 156-4 (35 overs)
OUT! Chamu Chibhabha caught behind on 99. He deserved a ton. It would have been his maiden ODI century. He stands there for a moment. He can't believe it. Tries a sweep and nicks it to Sarfraz who takes a good catch. Mutumbami walks in!
Shoaib Malik.
Zimbabwe 155-3 (34 overs)
Chibhabha on 99*.
Hammad Azam in for his second over.
Zimbabwe 151-3 (33 overs)
Chamu Chibhabha on 97*.
Shoaib Malik gets to have a bowl now.
Zimbabwe 147-3 (32 overs)
Just five runs off his over.
Hammad Azam is given the ball by Azhar Ali.
Zimbabwe 142-3 (31 overs)
Yasir Shah goes for two runs in his last over. He finished with two wickets for 40 runs.
Zimbabwe 140-3 (30 overs)
Six runs off his over.
Muhammad Sami continues his second spell.
Zimbabwe 134-3 (29 overs)
FOUR! Chibhabh moves to nervous nineties with this boundary. While everything is going wrong for Zimbabwe, Chibhabha is the only good that has happened to them today.
Yasir Shah again. Azhar seems to be bowling him out of his ten overs on the trot.
Zimbabwe 127-3 (28 overs)
Five runs off the over.
Muhammad Sami is back in the attack to round up Zimbabwe batsmen.
Zimbabwe 122-3 (27 overs)
OUT! Sean Williams walks back on a soft-dismissal. Pitched on middle and he strikes it into Yasir's hands. Two for the leggie as soon as the pitch started showing signs of some spin. Sikandar Raza walks in!
Yasir Shah continues!
Zimbabwe 121-2 (26 overs)
Wahab has been economical but he needs to convert that into wickets as well. Three off his over. Just 21 runs off his five overs on such a flat track.
Wahab Riaz continues in his second spell.
Zimbabwe 118-2 (25 overs)
CAUGHT! Yasir Shah was getting some serious spin from the pitch. Azhar got him a slip and the reverse sweep from Hamilton Masakadza jumps up in the air and is caught. Yasir strikes! Sean Williams is in!
Yasir Shah again!
Zimbabwe 114-1 (24 overs)
FOUR! Hamilton Masakadza gets a thick edge, it flies towards first slip, oh wait! there is no slip. Third man boundary it is. Wahab ditched by the non-presence of a fielder this time.
Wahab Riaz is back into the attack to find a wicket.
Zimbabwe 109-1 (23 overs)
FOUR! Hamilton Masakadza sweeps for a boundary.
Muhammad Hafeez into his fourth over.
Zimbabwe 99-1 (22 overs)
Three runs off his over.
Yasir Shah in for his sixth over on the trot.
Zimbabwe 96-1 (21 overs)
Six runs off the over.
With the arrival of Hamilton Masakadza, singles and doubles have started flowing in for Zimbabwe. Sibanda didn't look his usual self today!
Muhammad Hafeez into his third.
Zimbabwe 90-1 (20 overs)
Five runs off his over.
Yasir Shah into his fifth over.
Zimbabwe 85-1 (19 overs)
BOWLED! That is the end of Sibanda's misery. He didn't know if he should go for it or just block. In the end, the ball messes up his stumps.
Muhammad Hafeez into his second.
Zimbabwe 82-0 (18 overs)
SIX! Wrong one by Yasir and Chibhabha goes down on one knee to slog it over Shoaib Malik at deep mid-wicket.
Yasir Shah.
Zimbabwe 74-0 (17 overs)
FOUR! Chibhabha has scored all the boundaries for Zimbabwe.
Muhammad Hafeez brought into the attack after the drinks break! So spin from both sides.
Zimbabwe 66-0 (16 overs)
FOUR! Chibhabha makes a full-toss out of a flighted ball and hits it straight to bring up his FIFTY.
Yasir Shah with his leggies.
Zimbabwe 61-0 (15 overs)
FOUR! Wanders on the leg stump, Chibhabha (47*) just glances it towards the fine leg boundary.
Wahab Riaz into his third over.
Zimbabwe 54-0 (14 overs)
Just two runs off his over.
Yasir shah into his second over.
Zimbabwe 52-0 (13 overs)
Three runs off his over. Either Wahab or Yasir will have to provide Pakistan with a breakthrough and that too as quickly as possible!
Wahab Riaz continues!
Zimbabwe 49-0 (12 overs)
LBW appeal! The ball pitched on leg and and straightened up. If there was not bat involved it was plum! Chibhabha might have survives a chance here.
And we have spin coming in! Yasir Shah.
Zimbabwe 46-0 (11 overs)
Just three runs off his over and no drop catches!
Wahab Riaz is introduced into the attack! Who is in line to drop a catch on his bowling today? Guess and win a tissue box to wipe off your tears.
Zimbabwe 43-0 (10 overs)
FOUR! And AGAIN! Chibhabha is on fire against Pakistan. Wide on off and treated as it should be. Struck hard through covers. This marks the end of Anwar Ali's happy moment.
FOUR! Chibhabha the aggressor again. This time he flicks it towards backward square leg.
Anwar ali into his fifth over.
Zimbabwe 32-0 (9 overs)
FOUR! Short and wide. Hit by Chibhabha on the bounce towards covers. Zimbabwe managing a boundary in every over now. Pakistan need a wicket and in these conditions pace is not going to work for them. Spinner please?
Muhammad Sami continues.
Zimbabwe 26-0 (8 overs)
FOUR! On to Chibhabha's pads and he flicks it towards square leg boundary. Zimbabwe are switching gears now!
Anwar Ali is welcomed with a FOUR by Chamu Chibhabha. Just a little wide on off and he smacks it past the cover fielders.
Zimbabwe 17-0 (7 overs)
Muhammad Sami bowls a maiden! In these conditions and on this pitch every bowler will be wishing to bowl now. Zimbabwe batsmen are not going for the big shots and just trying to set their eyes in!
Zimbabwe 17-0 (6 overs)
Anwar Ali goes for two runs in his over. He must be thinking of bowling all ten overs on the trot if batsmen keep scoring at this rate.
Zimbabwe 15-0 (5 overs)
FOUR! Chibhabha cuts it beautifully. Wahab Riaz makes a run but the ball beats him! He didn't attempt a dive. He must be thinking its too early to save any runs.
Muhammad Sami again.
Zimbabwe 10-0 (4 overs)
He is bowling a straight line. No room for batsman. Let see how long he can carry this momentum.
Anwar Ali in for his second over.
Zimbabwe 8-0 (3 overs)
FOUR! Full and Chibhabha makes no mistakes. Drives it off the pads towards mid-wicket.
Muhammad Sami steams in again.
Zimbabwe 4-0 (2 overs)
Just a single off his over. Don't flatter yourself son, you have nine more overs to bowl!
Anwar Ali will share the new ball with Sami.
Zimbabwe 3-0 (1 over)
WIDE! Sami, after bowling four superb deliveries, goes wide on leg.
Sibanda has asked for a bat after the third ball off the first over! Is it Sami's pace or the quality of the bat?
First ball! Sami bowls it on off-stump gets some outward swing.
Muhammad Sami is going to bowl the first over. His prayers have been answered. Elton Chigumbura is not playing today! Can he capitalise on his absence? Vusimuzi Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha are out there to open the batting for Pakistan.
The weather is hot out there in Lahore but the spirit of cricket has pulled a full-house crowd today for the second ODI.
Toss
As we saw in the last match, whoever wins the toss will elect to bat first and put up a big score on the board to bat out the opposition. Pakistan did it successfully in the first ODI but can they do it again?
So, Pakistan have done the opposite. They have won the toss and elected to bowl first. Lets see how that turns out to be for the hosts.
Pakistan have fielded an unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe have made four changes. Coventry, Chibhabha, Creamer and Mupariwa are in.
It is a sold out game in Lahore!
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first going into the match with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chamu Chibhabha gave the visitors a much needed start scoring 99 off 100 balls. Later, Sikandar Raza struck an unbeaten century (exactly 100) off just 84 balls to put up a 269-run target for the hosts.
Azhar Ali opened the innings for Pakistan and completed his ton off 101 balls to lead his team's chase. Haris Sohail contributed with 52 off 49 balls while Asad Shafiq also played a useful 39-run knock.
Pakistan have won the series by gaining an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Man of the match Azhar Ali: Good performance from the team. Obviously you want to perform as captain. It's been fabulous in both the series. All the seniors have helped guide me, they have taught me to concentrate on my game and focus on the controllables. Working on my batting, modern cricket has become fast and you need to keep pace with it and I hope with the grace of God, I can. Great effort from the boys, bowling was very good on a batting wicket to keep them to 268. Everyone knows we have a long way to go, but everyone is giving an effort. Thanks to the crowd as well.
Hamilton Masakadza: Guys tried really hard. Raza and Chamu played really well. Lots of effort out there. Thought it was a drier wicket, still 20-30 short. Don't get to play that many games, so the guys have to rally and pull something out of the hat.
Read: We have an eye on Champions Trophy qualification, admits Azhar Ali
Teams
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (C), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Hammad Azam, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Sami
Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza (C), Vusimuzi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Sean Williams, Mutumbami†, Sikandar Raza, Charles Coventry, Greame Cremer, Mupariwa, Brian Vitori, Panyangara
Pakistan 233-4 (44 overs)
FOUR! Shoaib Malik cuts it to beat the wide third man.
Panyangara.
Pakistan 228-4 (43 overs)
Shoaib 12, Haris 36
FOUR! Haris rocks back and cuts the ball through covers to find the boundary.
Greame Cremer in for his last over.
Pakistan 221-4 (42 overs)
FOUR! Shoaib Malik is on song right from the word go. Cuts it past point for a boundary.
Brian Vitori!
Pakistan 212-4 (41 overs)
OUT! Azhar Ali (102) caught while slicing at point. Shoaib Malik is in.
Mupariwa!
Pakistan 201-3 (40 overs)
FOUR! Haris Sohail goes over long-off on the last ball of the over.
Brian Vitori.
Pakistan 201-3 (39 overs)
CENTURY! Azhar Ali takes two on the last ball and completes his ton. It took him 101 balls.
Sean Williams.
Pakistan 193-3 (38 overs)
Azhar 94, Haris 21
FOUR! After playing three dot balls, Haris Sohail goes over extra cover
Panyangara bowls third over of batting powerplay.
Pakistan 189-3 (37 overs)
Azhar 94, Haris 17
FOUR! Haris Sohail goes for the long-off boundary.
Sean Williams bowls his ninth over.
Pakistan 179-3 (36 overs)
Azhar 90, Haris 11
No boundaries off it. Only five runs off the over.
Panyangara bowls the first over of the batting powerplay.
Pakistan 174-3 (35 overs)
Azhar 88, Haris 8
The centurion Sikandar Raza is brought on to bowl.
Pakistan 169-3 (34 overs)
Six runs off the over.
Greame Cremer into his ninth over.
Pakistan 163-3 (33 overs)
FOURx2! Haris Sohail and then Azhar Ali. Is this the time Pakistan shift up their gear? Batting powerplay coming up after two overs.
Sean Williams.
Pakistan 154-3 (32 overs)
OUT! Asad Shafiq (39) is caught at short cover off a leading edge. Haris Sohail is in!
Greame Cremer bowls.
Pakistan 151-2 (31 overs)
Three runs off the over.
Sean Williams bowls.
Pakistan 148-2 (30 overs)
Six runs off the over.
Hamilton Masakadza comes on to bowl as Sepp Blatter wins a fifth term at the FIFA helm.
Pakistan 142-2 (29 overs)
Three runs off his over.
Sean Williams bowls his sixth.
Pakistan 139-2 (28 overs)
FOUR! Azhar Ali goes for the extra cover boundary. Player tries to stop it but his foot was touching the boundary with ball in hand.
Mupariwa continues.
Pakistan 133-2 (27 overs)
FOUR! Asad Shafiq goes over the in-circle towards mid-wicket.
Sean Williams into his fifth.
Pakistan 127-2 (26 overs)
Seven runs off his over.
Mupariwa is brought back into the attack.
Pakistan 120-2 (25 overs)
Five runs off it.
Greame Cremer in for his seventh.
Pakistan 115-2 (24 overs)
Sean Williams gives away four runs in his over.
Pakistan 111-2 (23 overs)
Five runs off the over.
DROPPED! Azhar Ali gets a life line at covers. Chibhabha the culprit.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 106-2 (22 overs)
Sean Williams goes for four runs in his over.
Pakistan 102-2 (21 overs)
FIFTY! Azhar Ali gets his half-century off 51 balls.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 99-2 (20 overs)
Azhar Ali is on 49*.
Sean Williams goes for three runs in his over.
Pakistan 93-2 (19 overs)
FOUR! Drilled through extra cover by Azhar Ali. He is in a fine touch.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 83-2 (18 overs)
Three runs off his over.
Sean Williams is brought on.
Pakistan 80-2 (17 overs)
Greame Cremer goes for four runs in his over.
Pakistan 76-2 (16 overs)
Six runs off Brian Vitori's over.
Pakistan 70-2 (15 overs)
Four runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Muhammad Hafeez (15) caught at long-off boundary.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 66-1 (14 overs)
Brian Vitori bowls. Goes for three runs in his over.
Pakistan 62-1 (13 overs)
Two runs off his over.
Leg-spinner Greame Cremer is brought on.
Pakistan 61-1 (12 overs)
FOUR! Muhammad Hafeez pulls a short delivery towards backward square leg.
Brain Vitori.
Pakistan 54-1 (11 overs)
FOUR! Hafeez times this one sweetly. On his pads he just drives it past mid-on.
Chamu Chibhabha.
Pakistan 49-1 (10 overs)
Just two off his over.
Brain Vitori in for his second.
Pakistan 47-1 (9 overs)
OUT! He had done it! Sarfraz goes for a sweep and he is caught LBW on 22. Muhammad Hafeez walks in!
Chamu Chibhabha is brought on. Can he match his batting performance with his bowling?
Pakistan 42-0 (8 overs)
FOUR! Short and pulled by Azhar Ali towards long leg boundary.
Brian Vitori is brought on to bowl.
Pakistan 37-0 (7 overs)
FOUR! Azhar Ali pulls it to find the square leg boundary.
Panyangara into his fourth.
Pakistan 30-0 (6 overs)
FOUR! Azhar Ali goes through covers.
FOUR! Sarfraz Ahmed fetches it from outside off and guides it towards square leg boundary.
Mupariwa.
Pakistan 19-0 (5 overs)
FOUR! Azhar Ali agains walks down the pitch and slices it through covers.
Panyangara.
Pakistan 14-0 (4 overs)
Four runs off Mupariwa's over.
Pakistan 10-0 (3 overs)
Just two off the over. Pakistan off to a careful start as well.
Panyangara into his second over.
Pakistan 8-0 (2 overs)
Just four runs off his over.
Tawanda Mupariwa is given the ball by the captain.
Pakistan 4-0 (1 over)
FOUR! Azhar walks down the pitch and guides it towards midwicket.
Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed are going to open the innings for Pakistan. Panyangara has been given the ball by stand-in captain Hamilton Masakadza.
Zimbabwe 268-7 (50 overs)
FOUR! Full toss on legs and Panyangara just guides it towards fine leg.
Sikandar Raza is on 99* with three balls to get his century. He gets his CENTURY with a single. The crowd applauds his effort, the dressing applauds it. Everyone in the ground is up for him.
Anwar Ali bowls the last over.
Zimbabwe 258-7 (49 overs)
OUT! Wahab gets his second. Not such a bad day for him after all. Greame Creamer caught by Ahmed Shehzad in covers.
Wahab Riaz bowls his last and the penultimate over.
Zimbabwe 257-6 (48 overs)
SIX! Sikandar Raza goes over deep mid-wicket. Sami re-living the nightmare he lived against Chigumbura in the first ODI.
FOURx2! Twice over covers. Sikandar Raza showcasing his batting skills against Sami.
Muhammad Sami in for his ninth.
Zimbabwe 238-6 (47 overs)
OUT! Charles Coventry (10) caught behind.
SIX! Charles Coventry goes over deep mid-wicket.
Wahab Riaz is back for his ninth over.
Zimbabwe 230-5 (46 overs)
FOUR! Yorker on the off and Sikandar has sliced it over short third-man.
Muhammad Sami to bowl the death overs.
Zimbabwe 222-5 (45 overs)
SIX! Free-hit and Sikandar won't spare him. Such a deja vu. He misses a chance of bagging a wicket and gets hit for a maximum. Over mid-wicket!
OUT! Sikandar Raza caught at point. Oh no! Wahab needs to slaughter some 'sadqa bakras'. It is a no-ball. He over stepped this time. What else remains? How can you always manage something like this Wahab? HOW?
Wahab Riaz.
Zimbabwe 200-4 (43 overs)
Double century up for the Zimbabwe team as well.
Two runs and FIFTY up for Sikandar Raza.
Muhammad Hafeez bowls his sixth.
Zimbabwe 197-4 (42 overs)
FOUR! Full-toss on Sikandar Raza's legs and he chips it towards backward square leg.
Anwar Ali bowls his seventh over.
Zimbabwe 190-4 (41 overs)
Just three runs off his over.
Muhammad Hafeez is back to operate.
Zimbabwe 187-4 (40 overs)
FOUR! Short and pulled by Sikandar Raza towards mid-wicket boundary.
Wahab Riaz runs in for the last over of the batting powerplay.
Zimbabwe 180-4 (39 overs)
FOUR! Length ball and Sikandar Raza just stands and delivers it through covers.
Anwar Ali is back for the powerplay overs.
Zimbabwe 173-4 (38 overs)
Just two runs off his over. Six over for only 23 runs. That is impressive from Wahab.
Wahab Riaz is back!
Zimbabwe 171-4 (37 overs)
SIX! Sikandar rocks it over mid-off fielder.
Shoaib Malik continues.
Zimbabwe 161-4 (36 overs)
RUN OUT chance! Mutumbami's foot is stuck in the ground and he has to jump to make it in. The ball hits the stumps directly. Umpire refers to the third umpire who says he is safe.
Hammad Azam bowls his third.
Zimbabwe 156-4 (35 overs)
OUT! Chamu Chibhabha caught behind on 99. He deserved a ton. It would have been his maiden ODI century. He stands there for a moment. He can't believe it. Tries a sweep and nicks it to Sarfraz who takes a good catch. Mutumbami walks in!
Shoaib Malik.
Zimbabwe 155-3 (34 overs)
Chibhabha on 99*.
Hammad Azam in for his second over.
Zimbabwe 151-3 (33 overs)
Chamu Chibhabha on 97*.
Shoaib Malik gets to have a bowl now.
Zimbabwe 147-3 (32 overs)
Just five runs off his over.
Hammad Azam is given the ball by Azhar Ali.
Zimbabwe 142-3 (31 overs)
Yasir Shah goes for two runs in his last over. He finished with two wickets for 40 runs.
Zimbabwe 140-3 (30 overs)
Six runs off his over.
Muhammad Sami continues his second spell.
Zimbabwe 134-3 (29 overs)
FOUR! Chibhabh moves to nervous nineties with this boundary. While everything is going wrong for Zimbabwe, Chibhabha is the only good that has happened to them today.
Yasir Shah again. Azhar seems to be bowling him out of his ten overs on the trot.
Zimbabwe 127-3 (28 overs)
Five runs off the over.
Muhammad Sami is back in the attack to round up Zimbabwe batsmen.
Zimbabwe 122-3 (27 overs)
OUT! Sean Williams walks back on a soft-dismissal. Pitched on middle and he strikes it into Yasir's hands. Two for the leggie as soon as the pitch started showing signs of some spin. Sikandar Raza walks in!
Yasir Shah continues!
Zimbabwe 121-2 (26 overs)
Wahab has been economical but he needs to convert that into wickets as well. Three off his over. Just 21 runs off his five overs on such a flat track.
Wahab Riaz continues in his second spell.
Zimbabwe 118-2 (25 overs)
CAUGHT! Yasir Shah was getting some serious spin from the pitch. Azhar got him a slip and the reverse sweep from Hamilton Masakadza jumps up in the air and is caught. Yasir strikes! Sean Williams is in!
Yasir Shah again!
Zimbabwe 114-1 (24 overs)
FOUR! Hamilton Masakadza gets a thick edge, it flies towards first slip, oh wait! there is no slip. Third man boundary it is. Wahab ditched by the non-presence of a fielder this time.
Wahab Riaz is back into the attack to find a wicket.
Zimbabwe 109-1 (23 overs)
FOUR! Hamilton Masakadza sweeps for a boundary.
Muhammad Hafeez into his fourth over.
Zimbabwe 99-1 (22 overs)
Three runs off his over.
Yasir Shah in for his sixth over on the trot.
Zimbabwe 96-1 (21 overs)
Six runs off the over.
With the arrival of Hamilton Masakadza, singles and doubles have started flowing in for Zimbabwe. Sibanda didn't look his usual self today!
Muhammad Hafeez into his third.
Zimbabwe 90-1 (20 overs)
Five runs off his over.
Yasir Shah into his fifth over.
Zimbabwe 85-1 (19 overs)
BOWLED! That is the end of Sibanda's misery. He didn't know if he should go for it or just block. In the end, the ball messes up his stumps.
Muhammad Hafeez into his second.
Zimbabwe 82-0 (18 overs)
SIX! Wrong one by Yasir and Chibhabha goes down on one knee to slog it over Shoaib Malik at deep mid-wicket.
Yasir Shah.
Zimbabwe 74-0 (17 overs)
FOUR! Chibhabha has scored all the boundaries for Zimbabwe.
Muhammad Hafeez brought into the attack after the drinks break! So spin from both sides.
Zimbabwe 66-0 (16 overs)
FOUR! Chibhabha makes a full-toss out of a flighted ball and hits it straight to bring up his FIFTY.
Yasir Shah with his leggies.
Zimbabwe 61-0 (15 overs)
FOUR! Wanders on the leg stump, Chibhabha (47*) just glances it towards the fine leg boundary.
Wahab Riaz into his third over.
Zimbabwe 54-0 (14 overs)
Just two runs off his over.
Yasir shah into his second over.
Zimbabwe 52-0 (13 overs)
Three runs off his over. Either Wahab or Yasir will have to provide Pakistan with a breakthrough and that too as quickly as possible!
Wahab Riaz continues!
Zimbabwe 49-0 (12 overs)
LBW appeal! The ball pitched on leg and and straightened up. If there was not bat involved it was plum! Chibhabha might have survives a chance here.
And we have spin coming in! Yasir Shah.
Zimbabwe 46-0 (11 overs)
Just three runs off his over and no drop catches!
Wahab Riaz is introduced into the attack! Who is in line to drop a catch on his bowling today? Guess and win a tissue box to wipe off your tears.
Zimbabwe 43-0 (10 overs)
FOUR! And AGAIN! Chibhabha is on fire against Pakistan. Wide on off and treated as it should be. Struck hard through covers. This marks the end of Anwar Ali's happy moment.
FOUR! Chibhabha the aggressor again. This time he flicks it towards backward square leg.
Anwar ali into his fifth over.
Zimbabwe 32-0 (9 overs)
FOUR! Short and wide. Hit by Chibhabha on the bounce towards covers. Zimbabwe managing a boundary in every over now. Pakistan need a wicket and in these conditions pace is not going to work for them. Spinner please?
Muhammad Sami continues.
Zimbabwe 26-0 (8 overs)
FOUR! On to Chibhabha's pads and he flicks it towards square leg boundary. Zimbabwe are switching gears now!
Anwar Ali is welcomed with a FOUR by Chamu Chibhabha. Just a little wide on off and he smacks it past the cover fielders.
Zimbabwe 17-0 (7 overs)
Muhammad Sami bowls a maiden! In these conditions and on this pitch every bowler will be wishing to bowl now. Zimbabwe batsmen are not going for the big shots and just trying to set their eyes in!
Zimbabwe 17-0 (6 overs)
Anwar Ali goes for two runs in his over. He must be thinking of bowling all ten overs on the trot if batsmen keep scoring at this rate.
Zimbabwe 15-0 (5 overs)
FOUR! Chibhabha cuts it beautifully. Wahab Riaz makes a run but the ball beats him! He didn't attempt a dive. He must be thinking its too early to save any runs.
Muhammad Sami again.
Zimbabwe 10-0 (4 overs)
He is bowling a straight line. No room for batsman. Let see how long he can carry this momentum.
Anwar Ali in for his second over.
Zimbabwe 8-0 (3 overs)
FOUR! Full and Chibhabha makes no mistakes. Drives it off the pads towards mid-wicket.
Muhammad Sami steams in again.
Zimbabwe 4-0 (2 overs)
Just a single off his over. Don't flatter yourself son, you have nine more overs to bowl!
Anwar Ali will share the new ball with Sami.
Zimbabwe 3-0 (1 over)
WIDE! Sami, after bowling four superb deliveries, goes wide on leg.
Sibanda has asked for a bat after the third ball off the first over! Is it Sami's pace or the quality of the bat?
First ball! Sami bowls it on off-stump gets some outward swing.
Muhammad Sami is going to bowl the first over. His prayers have been answered. Elton Chigumbura is not playing today! Can he capitalise on his absence? Vusimuzi Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha are out there to open the batting for Pakistan.
The weather is hot out there in Lahore but the spirit of cricket has pulled a full-house crowd today for the second ODI.
Toss
As we saw in the last match, whoever wins the toss will elect to bat first and put up a big score on the board to bat out the opposition. Pakistan did it successfully in the first ODI but can they do it again?
So, Pakistan have done the opposite. They have won the toss and elected to bowl first. Lets see how that turns out to be for the hosts.
Pakistan have fielded an unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe have made four changes. Coventry, Chibhabha, Creamer and Mupariwa are in.
It is a sold out game in Lahore!