Rain had the last laugh in the final ODI between Pakistan and Zimbabwe. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESS
Rain had the last laugh in the last ODI of the three-match series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at Gaddafi stadium, Lahore as the hosts bagged a 2-0 series victory.
The match was termed as 'No Result' after rain followed by a dust storm made it impossible for the match to continue.
A light stand went off-line due to the dust storm when Zimbabwe were batting on 62-0 after eight overs.
After a break, Zimbabwe came into bat again and were given a revised target of 281 to be chased inside 46 overs. With only one over bowled after the break, rain kicked in again to ruin the show.
Earlier, Pakistan set 297-run target for Zimbabwe in the third and last ODI of the series courtesy a late rampage from the tail-enders.
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali won the toss and elected to bat first. He, together with Muhammad Hafeez put up an opening partnership of 115 runs. Azhar was run out on 46.
Hafeez (80) carried the charge onto Zimbabwe but was caught LBW off Sikandar Raza's first ball of his first over.
Debutante Babar Azam walked in and scored a steady fifty to keep the scoreboard ticking for Pakistan.
Shoaib Malik (3), Asad Shafiq (16) and Hammad Azam (4) were not able to inspire but Sarfraz Ahmed played a useful 25-run knock before getting out.
Anwar Ali, at the death-end of the innings scored unbeaten 37 off 23 balls coupled with two fours and two sixes to boost Pakistan's total to 296-9.
Teams
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (C), Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Hammad Azam, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah
Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza (C), Vusimuzi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Sean Williams, Mutumbami†, Sikandar Raza, Charles Coventry, Greame Cremer, Roy Kaia, Chris Mpofu, Panyangara
Zimbabwe 68-0 (9 overs)
So, the final verdict is out. The match has ended as a 'No Result'.
The match ended as No Result Pakistan won the ODI series by 2-0 #PAKvZIM #CricketComesHome
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 31, 2015
A few people belonging to Lahore in the newsroom suggest that rain in Lahore never stops in time? Do you agree?
Muhammad Hafeez bowls the ninth over quickly and the players have left the field again.
The target has been revised. Zimbabwe need 281 inside 46 overs.
The lights have been fixed but the dust storm is still there. Probability of losing overs.
The light is back on. PHOTO: TAHA ANIS/ EXPRESS
When the light went off-line. PHOTO: TAHA ANIS/ EXPRESSBefore the start of the ninth over, a light tower has blacked out in Gaddafi stadium. Delay in play!
Light tower down and there is dust storm as well. Meera dancing in front of comm box. pic.twitter.com/n9ynyxIjil
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) May 31, 2015
Zimbabwe 62-0 (8 overs)
FOUR! Driven through covers. Chibhabha is on fire!
FOUR! Inside edge runs down to the fine leg boundary. Chibhabha survives.
NASTY BLOW on Sibanda's helmet. Wahab bangs in a short ball and leaves Sibanda in confused whether to duck or pull. He receives it on his helmet. Good news is no damage done!
Wahab Riaz into his second over.
Zimbabwe 53-0 (7 overs)
He goes for four runs in his over.
Muhammad Hafeez is brought on early. Azhar knows the importance of early wickets.
Zimbabwe 49-0 (6 overs)
He goes for five runs in the over.
Wahab Riaz is brought into the attack early by Azhar Ali. He needs to strike as early as possible!
Zimbabwe 44-0 (5 overs)
FOURx2! Chibhabha and Sibanda both go for the mid-wicket region.
Junaid Khan.
Chairman box #PAKvZIM #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/e6qv5PWWPS
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 31, 2015
Zimbabwe 31-0 (4 overs)
FOUR! Sibanda walks down and opens the face of the bat for a boundary over covers.
FOUR! Wide on off and Sibanda cuts it for a boundary. Anwar is searching for some in-swing.
Anwar Ali again.
Zimbabwe 19-0 (3 overs)
Four runs off the over.
Junaid Khan in for his second.
Zimbabwe 15-0 (2 overs)
FOUR! Chibhabha bisects the mid-on and mid-wicket fielder.
Anwar Ali will share the new ball with Junaid Khan.
Zimbabwe 6-0 (1 over)
FOUR over throws to Chibhabha. Babar Azam takes a shy at the stumps and Junaid is not able to back it up.
Junaid Khan is given the new ball by Azhar Ali. Vusi Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha open the batting for Zimbabwe.
Pakistan 296-9 (50 overs)
FOUR! Junaid Khan swings wildly and get a boundary on the last ball. Zimbabwe need to chase 297 runs inside 50 overs.
Single by Anwar Ali.
Junaid Khan bring Anwar Ali back on strike with a single.
Single by Anwar Ali.
RUN OUT! Yasir Shah is run out trying to get two and put Anwar Ali on strike. Junaid Khan is in!
FOUR! Full-toss guided by Anwar Ali towards the boundary.
Panyangara bowls the last over.
Pakistan 284-8 (49 overs)
OUT! Caught behind on the last ball. Wahab Riaz get a healthy edge on the ball and he departs for 13.
FOUR! This time Wahab goes for the extra cover boundary.
SIX! Length ball pulled over mid-wicket by Wahab Riaz.
Chris Mpofu bowls the penultimate over.
Pakistan 271-7 (48 overs)
SIX! Low full-toss and Anwar Ali goes over long-on. It went high and out of the playing bounds.
Panyangara bowls his seventh.
Pakistan 261-7 (47 overs)
FOUR! Wahab Riaz gets one the leg side and it runs to the fine leg boundary off his legs.
BOWLED! Full-toss and Babar Azam (54) edges it onto his stumps.
SAVED! Babar Azam caught behind but the umpire says the bat has hit the ground. Another angle shows that he got a thick edge.
Chris Mpofu is back as well.
Pakistan 252-6 (46 overs)
SIX! Slow ball and Anwar Ali goes big over long-on. He had to check his shot at the last moment but he does is very well.
Panyangara is back.
Pakistan 242-6 (45 overs)
FIFTY! He has got there. Roar from the crowd. Just 54 balls. He raises his bat but he needs to continue till the end for Pakistan.
Babar Azam is on 49*. He can become the tenth Pakistani batsman to score a half-century on debut.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 237-6 (44 overs)
FOUR! Full-toss and Babar Azam sends it ripping through covers.
Sikandar Raza bowls his last over. What a day he had today. Three wickets for him.
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSPakistan 227-6 (43 overs)
FOUR! Babar Azam goes for the extra cover boundary with a graceful inside-out shot.
Greame Cremer bowls his ninth.
Pakistan 219-6 (42 overs)
FOUR! Babar Azam goes for mid-wicket boundary. A diving fielder could not stop it!
Sikandar Raza bowls his ninth over.
Pakistan 213-6 (41 overs)
BOWLED! Hammad Azam (4) misses a straighter one. Anwar Ali is the new batsman.
Greame Cremer is back to bowl his eighth over.
Pakistan 210-5 (40 overs)
Six runs off the over.
FOUR! Short and pulled towards leg boundary.
Last over of the batting powerplay by Sikandar Raza.
Pakistan 204-5 (39 overs)
FOUR! On leg and Babar tucks it down towards fine leg.
Two Azams out there for Pakistan. Hammad Azam and Babar Azam.
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSPakistan 197-5 (38 overs)
OUT! Sarfraz Ahmed (25) caught at short mid-wicket. Three for Sikandar. Pakistan is doing what it does best, make a hero out of a nothing bowler!
FOUR! Sarfraz is standing very wide on the leg leaving the wicket exposed. Short ball and he pulls it towards long leg boundary.
Sikandar Raza bowls the third over the batting powerplay.
Pakistan 191-4 (37 overs)
Babar 20, Sarfraz 21
Six runs off the over.
Sean Williams bowls his ninth over and second of the batting powerplay.
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSPakistan 185-4 (36 overs)
Babar 19, Sarfraz 17
FOUR! Sarfraz Ahmed sweeps it for a boundary.
Sikandar Raza will continue for the first over of the batting powerplay.
Pakistan 176-4 (35 overs)
Babar 17, Sarfraz 11
Seven runs off the over.
Sean Williams bowls the last over before the batting powerplay.
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSPakistan 169-4 (34 overs)
Babar 14, Sarfraz 7
Just four runs off his over.
Sikandar Raza again. Can he find another wicket. He has been involved in all the four dismissal today.
Pakistan 165-4 (33 overs)
FOUR! Sarfraz Ahmed shows how good this pitch is for batting. Kick off his innings with a boundary.
Sean Williams.
Pakistan 159-4 (32 overs)
RUN OUT! Shoaib Malik (3) departs. No show from him today! Sarfraz Ahmed walks in. Is this his day?
Sikandar Raza. He seems to be riding on great luck today.
Pakistan 154-3 (31 overs)
Babar 9, Shoaib 1
Just three runs off the over. Williams is bowling nicely for Zimbabwe. Not giving away any boundaries or loose deliveries.
Sean Williams.
Super fan #PAKvZIM #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/j8WnCkvjbO
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 29, 2015
Pakistan 151-3 (30 overs)
OUT! Asad Shafiq caught by Sean William at mid-wicket on 16. The man in form Shoaib Malik walks in.
Sikandar into his third over.
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSPakistan 150-2 (29 overs)
Asad 16, Babar 6
Just two runs off his over. He has been quite economical today. Only 13 off his five.
Sean Williams into his fifth over on the trot.
Pakistan 148-2 (28 overs)
Asad 14, Babar 5
FOUR! Asad Shafiq cuts it through covers.
Sikandar Raza in for his second.
Pakistan 140-2 (27 overs)
Asad 9, Babar 3
Just two runs off the over.
Sean Williams.
Pakistan 138-2 (26 overs)
Asad 8, Babar 2
Babar Azam, the debutante, is in. He was given the cap by team manager Naveed Akram Cheema before the match.
LBW! It was a near yorker from Sikandar and Hafeez is caught in front on the wickets on 80.
Sikandar Raza comes into the attack.
Pakistan 134-1 (25 overs)
Four runs off Sean Williams' over.
Pakistan 130-1 (24 overs)
FOURx2! Hafeez is not letting his foot off the paddle. He goes for the point boundary and follows up with a sweep towards square leg.
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 122-1 (23 overs)
Just two runs off his over.
Sean Willaims.
Pakistan 120-1 (22 overs)
Hafeez 70, Asad 2
Two runs off the over.
Greame Cremer into his sixth.
Pakistan 118-1 (21 overs)
Hafeez 69, Asad 1
Just three runs off the over.
Sean Williams is introduced! Spin from both ends?
Pakistan 115-1 (20 overs)
Azhar 46, Hafeez 67
RUN OUT! Azhar Ali caught short of his crease with a direct hit. Asad Shafiq is the new number three today.
SIX! Full-toss served to Hafeez and he won't miss this one. Over mid-wicket! Its big!
Greame Cremer.
Pakistan 105-0 (19 overs)
Azhar 45, Hafeez 58
FOUR! Short and punched towards mid-wicket by Muhammad Hafeez.
FIFTY for Muhammad Hafeez as he runs for two.
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSHami Masakadza!
Pakistan 96-0 (18 overs)
Azhar 45, Hafeez 49
FOUR! Short and Muhammad Hafeez pulls it towards the cow corner. Sibanda dives magnificently but is not able to save it.
Greame Cremer continues.
Pakistan 89-0 (17 overs)
Azhar 45, Hafeez 42
Six runs off the over.
Hamilton Masakadaz is in himself to bowl
Pakistan 83-0 (16 overs)
Azhar 43, Hafeez 38
Just two runs off the over.
Greame Cremer.
PHOTO: MALIK SHAFIQ/ EXPRESSPakistan 81-0 (15 overs)
Azhar 42, Hafeez 37
Six runs off the over.
Chamu Chibhabha.
https://twitter.com/Minhal_Shah1/status/604975642803732481
Pakistan 75-0 (14 overs)
Azhar 40, Hafeez 34
Just three runs off the over.
Gream Cremer.
Pakistan 72-0 (13 overs)
Azhar 38, Hafeez 33
FOUR! Full and Azhar Ali drives it past the fielder towards extra cover.
FOUR! Azhar Ali walks down the pitch and dispatches a short ball over mid-wicket.
Chamu Chibhabha.
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSPakistan 62-0 (12 overs)
FOUR! Muhammad Hafeez cuts the last ball to find the boundary. It was wide and asking for it!
Greame Cremer is in as Zimbabwe introduce spin.
Pakistan 54-0 (11 overs)
Just two off the over.
Chamu Chibhabha bowls his second over.
Pakistan 52-0 (10 overs)
Three runs off his over.
Panyangara! He has been the most economical bowler today till now. Only 15 runs off his first five overs.
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSPakistan 49-0 (9 overs)
Chamu Chibhabha introduced into the attack.
PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSPakistan 44-0 (8 overs)
Just three runs off his over.
Panyangara continues.
Pakistan 41-0 (7 overs)
SIX, FOUR! Azhar Ali warms up against Mpofu. He is looking to play a big innings today as well. The maximum goes over point and the boundary is just edged past the short third man fielder.
Pakistan 30-0 (6 overs)
Just two runs off the over.
Panyangara again.
Pakistan 28-0 (5 overs)
FOUR! Muhammad Hafeez pulls this time. He is favoring the leg side mostly. Towards mid-wicket!
Chris Mpofu!
Crowd poring in for the last ODI. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESSPakistan 20-0 (4 overs)
Just a single off Panyangara's over.
Pakistan 19-0 (3 overs)
FOUR! Hafeez won't spare anything on his legs. Tucked towards mid-wicket this time.
Chris Mpofu again.
Pakistan 15-0 (2 overs)
FOUR! Azhar Ali goes over extra-cover. He had to do it since there was no chance of getting out. Free hit pays off!
Panyangara starts with a no-ball and Azhar Ali get a free hit.
Pakistan 9-0 (1 over)
FOUR! On Hafeez's pads again and he drives it past the mid-on fielder for a boundary.
First ball of the last match. On Hafeez's pads and he flicks it for two towards square leg.
Azhar Ali and Muhammad Hafeez open the batting for Pakistan. Chris Mpofu will be bowling the first over with the new ball for Zimbabwe.
Toss
Pakistan have won the toss and Azhar Ali has opted to bat first this time citing the reason that dew did not come in to play in the second ODI so they are hoping it happens again.
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