Nasir Jamshed scored his second successive half-century and Shahid Afridinotched an unbeaten 43 to guide Pakistan past Zimbabwe in the second ODI of the Mobilink Cup in Hyderabad. Pakistan lead the series 2-0 with three to play
The Bulletin by Faras Ghani in Hyderabad24-Jan-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Shahid Afridi cracked 43 to usher Pakistan to victory © AFP
Nasir Jamshed scored his second successive half-century and Shahid Afridinotched an unbeaten 43 to guide Pakistan past Zimbabwe in the second ODI of the Mobilink Cup in Hyderabad. Pakistan lead the series 2-0 with three to play.Jamshed, after the early loss of Salman Butt, shared a 95-runsecond-wicket partnership with Younis Khan to start Pakistan’s chaseconfidently. Jamshed began in a hurry, lofting Gary Brent overextra cover for his first boundary of the day in only the second over. He wasdropped by Brent off his own bowling early on, but there was no respitefor the fielding side as he first cut fiercely past point and then drove Brent past mid-off. Elton Chigumbura then bore the brunt of Jamshed’s bat – flicked over midwicket, edged over point and then turned past square-leg for consecutive boundaries.The 18-year-old continued, smashing Chamu Chibhabha through extra coverbefore glancing Chigumbura to fine-leg for his 11th boundary, and bringing up his half century off only 42 deliveries. Jamshed got another reprive when on 72 – dropped by Brent again at long-off – but he was finally dismissed soon after thanks to some stunning work by Ray Price. With a quick pick-up in his follow-through, stopping astraight drive, he threw down the stumps and beat Jamshed’s dive. Worse was to follow for Zimbabwe when Younis was run out for 35 two balls later going for a tight single.Zimbabwe were in with a sniff as Shoaib Malik, too, followed fourovers later – stumped off Price. Misbah-ul-Haq added 39 runs with MohammadYousuf to halt the slide but his dismissal brought Afridi to the middle. His arrival settled things once and for all as his 27-ball knock – loaded with four fours and two sixes – finally thwarted faint Zimbabwe hopes. He enjoyed some fortune, however, as he was dropped twice during his knock. But as Afridi pulled Hamilton Masakadza over midwicket and dispatched Chibhabha over the sight-screen, Zimbabwe were left ruing a sloppy display in the field.Earlier, Tanvir, who later won the Man-of-the-Match award, triggered a late batting collapse to restrict Zimbabwe to 238 for 8 off their 50 overs after the visitors optedto bat first. With seven overs to go, Zimbabwe were well-placed on 209 for3 – an ideal position from which to launch a final assault. However, Tanvir captured two quick wickets as Zimbabwe lost five for nine and finished the innings fifty runs short of a competitive target.Zimbabwe’s platform had been laid by a 137-run third-wicket partnershipbetween Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu, but none of the lower-order batsmentook advantage. The last ten overs produced only 45 runs with twoboundaries – both in the last over – as Zimbabwe panicked. Pakistan’sbowling, too, improved considerably, as Tanvir used the slower ball togood effect. Iftikhar Anjum, who gave away 37 runs off his first fourovers, also came back strongly to capture a brace of wickets in the firstover of his second spell.Until then, things had gone well for Zimbabwe, as a spirited fightback byMasakadza and Taibu resurrected the innings after Tanvir’s early doublestrike left Zimbabwe on 19 for 2. However, Tanvir apart, Pakistan’s fastbowlers, failed to trouble Zimbabwe – as had been the case in Karachi andMasakadza and Taibu took full toll.Using his feet well, Masakadza was particularly severe on Anjum.Overpitching frequently, Anjum was smashed through extra cover. When hepitched short, he was pulled. Even Samiullah Khan came in for stick:bowling full and wide he was driven through the covers and flicked off hislegs for boundaries. As Masakadza pulled Anjum for another boundary tosquare leg, then top-edged one over gully and swept Malik in quicksuccession, he brought up his seventh ODI half-century.Taibu meanwhile was content with singles and twos to keep his scoremoving. Even the normally reliable Afridi pitched short and was repeatedlycut for easy runs. With Pakistan opting for only three specialist bowlers- a ploy that failed to be tested in the first match – both batsmen scoredeasily. Pakistan’s lethargic fielding didn’t help, as easy singles weregiven away, and a few half-chances went begging.Taibu reached a steady fifty off 70 deliveries, just as Masakadza lost hisconcentration and drove loosely at Afridi, inside-edging on to his stumpsfor a well-made 87, his highest ODI score. Brendan Taylor briefly tookadvantage of Younis Khan, cutting past point for four and smashing him fora straight six.The return of Tanvir, however, proved Zimbabwe’s undoing as first Taylordeparted then Taibu soon after. Zimbabwe’s hopes of posting a competitivetotal vanished, and although Samiullah was swept and pulled for valuableboundaries by Gary Brent, 238 proved too small a target for an experiencedPakistani batting line-up.