Print

Mail

wiki links

Pakistan destroy Zimbabwe to whitewash the series

A youthful Pakistan led by Younis Khan's half century upstaged Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the fifth and final limited overs international to blank the tourists 5-0 in the one-day series.

Younis smashed a 51-ball 63 and added 97 runs with debutant Khurram Manzoor (50) for the second wicket to help the home team overhaul a modest target of 182 with 19 overs to spare at Sheikhupura Stadium.

Two young debutants -- pacemen Abdur Rauf (3-45) and Wahab Riaz (2-19) -- earlier bowled with fire to knock Zimbabwe out for 181 in 45.4 overs.

Pakistan's convincing win enthralled a crowd of 20,000 who braved the chilly weather in open stands to witness the first match at the venue for 10 years.

The home team were never in trouble in their run chase, even after losing opener Nasir Jamshed (19) in the seventh over as Younis and Manzoor made it child's play against Zimbabwe's bowling.

Younis hit eight boundaries and a six before being caught at mid-on by stand-in captain Hamilton Masakadza off left-arm spinner Ray Price.

Manzoor, who hit six boundaries off 74 balls, was bowled by Price an over later but Misbah-ul Haq (31 not out) and Fawad Alam (14 not out) saw off the runs without facing any problems.

Earlier, Pakistan once again bowled with discipline to put the tourists in trouble right from the start.

Rauf had opener Masakadza (5) in the fifth over before returning for his second spell to dismiss Gary Brent (7) and Chris Mpofu (0) to lead Pakistan's new-look bowling attack.

Pakistan made five changes to their line-up -- bringing back experienced batsman Younis and awarding one-day debuts to Riaz, Rauf, Rizwan Ahmed and Manzoor.

Zimbabwe remained unchanged.

Opener Vusi Sibanda (18) was run out before left-arm fast bowler Riaz took over, dismissing Tatenda Taibu (6) and Sean Williams (19), while Shoaib Malik trapped Chamu Chibhabha (1) leg-before as the tourists struggled to 67-5.

A sixth wicket stand between Brendon Taylor (49) and Elton Chigumbura (34) worth 85 runs gave some respectability to their total.

Taylor hit five boundaries during his 79-ball knock before he was bowled by Malik. Chigumbura hit two boundaries off 57 balls.
This story has been viewed 809 times.