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First ODI, Bulawayo: Pakistan 302-4 bt Zimbabwe 295-9 by seven runs

A patched-up Zimbabwe side gave Pakistan no end of bother as the tourists were unable to record the convincing victory they had seemed destined for.

Yousuf Youhana hit the seventh and biggest one-day century of his career as Pakistan managed to score in excess of a run a ball at the Queens Sports Club.

But some really gutsy batting from Zimbabwe's lower order and tail, in which seamers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis took some real flak late on, took the game to the wire.

Youhana thumped 13 fours and three sixes to reach an unbeaten 141 off 147 balls, and together with Younis Khan smashed 61 off the last 38 balls of the innings.

Younis finished on 33 not out, hitting two fours and a six in just 18 balls at the crease.

Inzamam's contribution was important

The innings was one-way traffic after Taufeeq Umar fell to the first ball of the second over, bowled by Sean Ervine.

Saleem Elahi contributed 53 in a 126-run partnership with Youhana before Inzamam-ul-Haq boosted the pace of the scoring by firing a rapid 55.

Patched-up

The Zimbabweans fielded a patched-up bowling attack, and it showed.

Only Grant Flower (two for 33 in 10 overs) added a measure of control.

Star bowler Heath Streak was unavailable for the home side after dislocating his shoulder in a traffic accident in Colombo in September.

Fellow quick Douglas Hondo also missed out through a shoulder injury while Travis Friend has a stress fracture of the leg.

The home side handed debuts to Richard Sims, Stuart Matsikenyeri and all-rounder Barney Rogers.

Slumped

Of those, Matsikeyeri and Rogers were two early casualties as Zimbabwe slumped to 32 for four in reply.

But Andy Flower (77) and Craig Evans (68) then came together in a partnership worth 135.

When they were both out the cause looked totally hopeless with 118 needed in less than 14 overs.

But Andy Blignaut hammered a 36-ball fifty and some lusty hits late on by Tatenda Taibu and Henry Olonga saw Zimbabwe fight on, much to the frustration of Pakistan.

Ultimately it always looked like they would fall short but with the World Cup just around the corner this was not the sort of bowling performance to make Pakistan happy.

Zimbabwe: Grant Flower, Alistair Campbell (captain), Stuart Matsikenyeri, Andy Flower, Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Richard Sims, Craig Evans, Henry Olonga, Sean Ervine, Barney Rodgers.

Pakistan: Taufeeq Umar, Salim Elahi, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Azhar Mahmood, Waqar Younis (captain), Wasim Akram, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar.


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