Malik celebrates after scoring his eighth ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik marked his comeback to ODI cricket with a magnificent knock of 112 to lead his side to a 41-run win over Zimbabwe in the first ODI in Lahore.
Malik was well supported by batsman Haris Sohail, opener Mohammad Hafeez and captain Azhar Ali, who made 89 not out, 86 and 79 respectively.
Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbira deserves a lot of credit for his career-best knock of 117.
Ali would have been delighted with his decision to bat first after he and Hafeez amassed a 170-run partnership, during which both of them brought up their half-centuries, before Ali was caught by Tinashe Panyangara at backward square leg off the bowling of Prosper Utseya.
Ali’s excellent knock of 79 came off 76 balls and included nine boundaries and two sixes.
Ali’s spectacular form with the bat continued
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Hafeez ended up making 86 off 83 deliveries, which included eight boundaries and four sixes, before he was clean bowled by Utseya.
Hafeez played some dazzling shots during his knock of 86
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Malik and Haris Sohail stabilised the innings with a 201-run partnership, during which Malik registered his eighth ODI century and Sohail his half-century, before Malik was caught by Hamilton Masakadza at backward point off the last ball of the innings, which was bowled by Panyangara.
Malik’s superb innings of 112 came off 76 balls and included 12 boundaries and two sixes.
Sohail remained undefeated on 89, which came off 66 deliveries and included six boundaries and two sixes, as Pakistan finished on 375/3 off their 50 overs.
Sohail hit six boundaries and two sixes during his unbeaten innings of 89
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Utseya was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Panyangara chipped in with one.
Chasing 376 to win, Zimbabwe got off to a solid start as Sikandar Raza and Vusi Sibanda put together a 56-run partnership before Raza was caught by Hafeez at midwicket off the bowling of Anwar Ali for 36.
Sibanda went on to score 23 before he was caught and bowled by Wahab Riaz.
Masakadza and Chigumbura steadied the innings with a 124-run partnership, during which both batsmen recorded their half-centuries, before Masakadza was caught by Hammad Azam at deep midwicket off the bowling of Malik.
Masakadza’s brilliant knock of 73 came off 73 balls and included four boundaries and two sixes.
Masakadza made a gutsy 73
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Chigumbura and Sean Williams kept the runs flowing with a 74-run partnership before Williams was caught behind off the bowling of Riaz for 36.
Chigumbura ended up scoring a career-best 117, which came off 95 deliveries and included 10 boundaries and four sixes, before he was clean bowled by Riaz.
Chigumbura is all smiles upon scoring his maiden ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Despite Utseya and Richmond Mutumbami’s unbeaten 41-run stand, Zimbabwe ended up falling short of their target.
Riaz was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Ali and Malik claimed one wicket each.
Chigumbura lauded his side for putting up a great fight, and said: “I thought we played well. Just unfortunate that in the last seven overs, we didn’t go out and get the score. Delighted with my innings and hopefully I can get more in the next games to come. I thought we started well, but maybe towards the end we didn’t execute our plans well.
“We didn’t bowl our yorkers, that’s the part of the game we need to work on. The pitch is good to bat on. If you put big runs on the board you can put the chasing team under pressure. The dew is steady now, but when we were batting it wasn’t that much”
Ali was ecstatic to have led Pakistan to victory in their first ODI on home soil after six years, and said: “It’s a great batting effort. Hafeez gave us a great start and the others got going after that. We batted Zimbabwe out of the game. The wickets are good. Bowling here is tough. But we should try to not to concede too many runs on batting tracks. Trying to play fearless cricket, and lead the team positively.”
Malik was named Man of the Match, and said: “I needed it. I would like to take some names here. My number was at five but Waqar said we have the start so you take over. I want to thank Mushtaq Ahmed as well for his belief and at the end of the day the team won.
“I was playing in Faisalabad in the domestic T20 tournament, got the flow from there and you need a lot of backing from the management as well. I would like to carry on my form and do well for my country. Before I got selected for the team, I was playing in various leagues around the world. I have been working on my bowling and I want to play as an all-rounder. I want to bowl, do well for the team and it adds extra edge to the team as well. I’m still learning, and I will try my level best to impart them to the youngsters. Thanks to all those who backed me, and even those who didn’t.”