Published: May 26, 2015, 08:38 PM (IST)
Edited: May 26, 2015, 08:51 PM (IST)
Pakistan posted a par score in the first One-Day International (ODI) against Zimbabwe at Lahore on Tuesday. It was thanks to a brilliant opening stand between Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez which laid the platform for the humongous total; the highest at the Gaddafi stadium in ODI history. It was also the first time, the top four Pakistan players scored at least 50 in an ODI innings and them getting two 150-plus run stands in an inning.
Zimbabwe started very well not giving any freebies to Pakistan openers to get off to a flier. Ali and Hafeez were cautious at the start and it was only Ali who started to flow. After the mandatory Powerplay, they were 47 for zero with both the openers looking well set. Both of them went after the spinners and runs began to flow as Zimbabwe tried many options. Ali brought up his sixth ODI fifty and continued his impressive run as a captain. LIVE CRICKET UPDATES: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe 2015, 1st ODI at Lahore
Ali and Hafeez had a 100-run stand, which was just the fifth time overall, but just the second time at home against Zimbabwe in 1996. Azhar got a reprieve when Chris Mpofu dropped a loft from the Pakistan skipper at long off. Mohammad Hafeez did not waste any time once he scored his 24th ODI fifty. He signaled his intent when he hit Sikandar Raza for two sixes in as many balls as Pakistan completely dominated the visitors.
The first blow came for Pakistan when Ali top edged a sweep to fine leg on 79 for Tinashe Panyangara to take a fine catch off the bowling of Proper Utseya who then returned to dismiss Hafeez who also missed out on his ton and was bowled for 86. Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail then came together to steady Pakistan as Zimbabwe kept the pressure on and slowed down the scoring. Malik though grew as he spent time at the crease and brought up his fifty, first one after 31 innings, his highest score on home soil. LIVE SCORECARD AND COMMENTARY: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI at Lahore
Even Haris and Sohail brought up the century stand as the visitors started to slip up in the field. Sohail too brought up his fifty, his sixth ODI fifty and looked very promising. He upped the ante once he got past his milestone and celebrated getting Pakistan past their previous highest ODI score, 322 with a three fours off Panyangara. Malik brought up his eight ODI ton off just 70 balls while Sohail was unbeaten on 89. Malik was out off the last ball of the inning but he had scored 112 already. Pakistan plundered 54 runs in the last five overs to finish with 375/3 at the end of 50 overs as both Malik and Sohail shared a 200-run stand.
Brilliant ton by Shoib Malik @realshoaibmalik @CPL pic.twitter.com/AuITK74fSU
— Usman Satti (@usmansatti93) May 26, 2015
Zimbabwe did not quite start well but came back decently in the middle overs. They though will know the chase is going to be a tough one for them and will hope the seniors in the team step up to help them chase down the big score. Pakistan have a good bowling attack and will back them to come good.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan, who won the preceding two-match Twenty20 series 2-0, brought in to the side leg-spinner Yasir Shah and all-rounder Hammad Azam. Azam played the last of his eight one-day internationals in Bangladesh three years ago. Zimbabwe brought back Craig Ervine, who failed to fully recover from a bout of flu which forced him to miss both the Twenty20 matches.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 375 for 3 in 50 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 86, Azhar Ali 79, Shoaib Malik 112, Haris Sohail 89; Prosper Utseya 2 for 63) vs Zimbabwe.
(Nikhil Popat is a cricket lover and a PotterHead. He can be followed on Twitter @CricCrazyNIKS)
