Bulawayo ODI: Pakistan edge Zimbabwe by five runs

Pakitan beat Zimbabwe by five runs in a thrilling finish at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday, in the first of three
One-day Internationals.

Chasing 248 to win, the home team could only manage 242 for seven in reply.

Captain Brendan Taylor top-scored with 84 and opener Vusimuzi Sibanda made 73. The duo added 61 runs for the third wicket while Taylor added another 60 for the fourth with Tatenda Taibu (26).

However, once the captain was dismissed By Aizaz Cheema, with the score on 233 with eight balls left, the writing was on the ball.

Cheema was the most successful Pakistan bowler with figures of three for 36.

Earlier Pakistan were held to a modest 247 by Zimbabwe after winning the toss and choosing to bat. The visitors could never get a grip on the innings and lost wickets at critical times. 

Younis Khan was Pakistan's highest scorer, making 78 in 72 balls with some polished stroke-play. His seventh century looked a distinct possibility till he was run out by Malcolm Waller going for a sharp second run with Misbah
ul-Haq (54). 

The captain and Umar Akmal (36) put on 60 runs for the fifth wicket.

Left-arm spinner Raymond Price was Zimbabwe's best bowler, finishing with figures of 2-39.

Scorecard:

Pakistan:

Mohammad Hafeez c Sibanda b Utseya     26
Imran Farhat c Taibu b Mpofu          0
Younis Khan run out (Waller)         78
Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Price            54
Shoaib Malik c Taibu b Chigumbura     2
Umar Akmal c Utseya b Mpofu        36
Adnan Akmal c Mpofu b Price         27
Sohail Tanveer not out               17
Saeed Ajmal not out                  1

Extras: (1lb, 5w)                  6
Total: (for 7 wkts in 50 overs)  247
Fall of Wickets: 1-1, 2-74, 3-126, 4-129, 5-189, 6-209, 7-245.

Bowling:
Mpofu 9-1-54-2
Price 10-1-39-2
Utseya 10-0-52-1
Lamb 5-0-37-0
Chigumbura 10-0-31-1
Masakadza 6-0-33-0.

Zimbabwe:

Vusi Sibanda c & b Cheema 73
Chamu Chibhabha b Tanveer 1
Hamilton Masakadza lbw Hafeez 15
Brendan Taylor c Tanveer b Cheema 84
Tatenda Taibu c Younis b Cheema 26
Malcolm Waller c Malik b Ajmal 10
Elton Chigumbura run out 24
Greg Lamb not out 1
Prosper Utseya not out 1

Extras: (b-11, w-5, nb-1) 7
Total: (For 7 wkts; 50 overs) 242
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-53, 3-114, 4-174, 5-196, 6-233

Bowling:
Tanveer 10-1-47-1
Junaid 7-0-51-0
Ajmal 10-0-48-1
Cheema 10-0-36-3
Hafeez 10-0-38-1
Malik 3-0-21-0.