Zimbabwe Stuns Pakistan in First ODI with Dominant Win

In the first ODI of the Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe secured an emphatic 80-run victory over Pakistan using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. The hosts outplayed Pakistan in all departments, with Sikandar Raza delivering an all-round performance to be named Player of the Match.

Zimbabwe’s Solid Start

Zimbabwe batted first and scored 205 runs in 40.2 overs. Although their top order faced some early setbacks, the team displayed resilience. Sean Williams contributed a brisk 23 off 17 balls, while Sikandar Raza steadied the innings with a gritty 39 off 56 deliveries.

Towards the end, Richard Ngarava added crucial runs with a solid 48 off 52 balls, hitting five boundaries and a six. Pakistan’s bowling was led by Faisal Akram, who took three wickets for just 24 runs, while Agha Salman also claimed three wickets in his spell.

Rain Alters Pakistan’s Target

Rain interrupted the game, reducing Pakistan’s target to 141 runs in 21 overs. However, Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling made the chase extremely difficult for the visitors.

Pakistan’s Batting Collapse

Pakistan struggled from the start, losing Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub early to Blessing Muzarabani. Kamran Ghulam tried to anchor the innings with 17 runs, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Captain Mohammad Rizwan fought hard with an unbeaten 19 off 43 balls but received no support from the other batters.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers dominated, with Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza taking two wickets each. Muzarabani was particularly impressive, conceding only nine runs in his five overs and dismissing two batters.