RAWALPINDI (Pakistan): Excellent spin bowling and batting performances by Iftikar Ahmed and Babar Azam helped Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets in the second One-day International on Sunday.
Ahmed grabbed 5-40 haul as the visitors were bowled out for 206 before Azam notched a 74-ball 77 not out to guide Pakistan to chase the target in 35.2 overs.
“It was a good show by our young team and every win brings more confidence,” said Pakistan captain Azam. “We improved on our batting from the first match which is a good sign.”
Zimbabwe needed early wickets, but a solid opening stand of 68 between Imam-ul-Haq (49) and Abid Ali (22) ensured Pakistan were set up nicely.
The win gives Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead after they won the first game by 26 runs on Friday. The last game of the series will be at the same venue on Tuesday.
Left-arm spinner Tendai Chisoro (2-49) removed both the openers while Sean Williams dismissed debutant Haider Ali (29) but Azam and Ahmed (16 not out) completed the victory during their unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 46 runs.
Azam hit seven boundaries in his 16th ODI half-century, bringing up the victory with his second six.
In contrast to Pakistan’s eighth consecutive ODI win, this was Zimbabwe’s tenth successive loss in the format, and left stand-in head coach Douglas Hondo disappointed.
“We needed to improve on the first game but we could not,” said Hondo. “We did not play our full 50 overs which was disappointing and we need a quick fix.”
