Yasir takes six wickets, leads Pakistan to big win over Zimbabwe

HARARE: Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took six wickets for 26 in 9 overs to help Pakistan win the first one-day international (ODI) against Zimbabwe by massive margin of 131 runs to take 1-0 lead in the three-match series here at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Pakistani bowling continued its good form in the ODIs after performing brilliantly in the two Twenty20s at the same venue.

Chasing a target of 260 runs set by the visitors, the home side collapsed to 128 in 37 overs. Sean Williams top-scored with 26 as Yasir returned his best ODI figures.

All bowlers contributed but Shah and other two spinners Imad Wasim and Shoaib Malik stood out sharing all ten wickets. Malik took three for 30 in 7 overs while Wasim grabbed one for 24 in same number of overs.

Yasir Shah was given the 'man of the match' award for his outstanding bowling performance.

A century stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Imad Wasim guided Pakistan from a tricky position to a challenging total earlier in the day.

The pair came together with Pakistan slipping at 128 for five after they had been inserted by the Zimbabweans, and each scored half-centuries to take the tourists to a final tally of 259 for six.

Both batsmen ended up scoring at a run a ball on a dry surface, with Rizwan finishing unbeaten on 75 and Wasim run out for 61 in the final over of the innings.

Although Zimbabwe started the day looking short on energy, they sparked to life in the sixth over when John Nyumbu made up for a dropped catch by running out Pakistan captain Azhar Ali with a direct hit.

From that point Pakistan slumped to 35 for three after 10 overs as seamers Tinashe Panyangara and Luke Jongwe were rewarded for their persistence with the wickets of Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez respectively.

Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik resurrected the innings as they added 65 for the fourth wicket, only to undo their good work by running down the pitch at Zimbabwe´s spinners.

While Malik was bowled by a dipping Nyumbu delivery for 31, Ahmed hit a Graeme Cremer delivery straight to deep midwicket to depart for 44.

Fortunately for Pakistan they had two middle-order batsmen in good form, with Rizwan and Wasim fresh from good outings in the Twenty20 international series, which the tourists swept 2-0.

They seamlessly restored some stability to the Pakistan innings, before cashing in at the end as they reaped 78 runs from the last eight overs.

The second game in the three-match series, all being played at the Harare Sports Club, is on Saturday.