Hafeez Guides Pakistan To Ten-Wicket Win

Hafeez Guides Pakistan To Ten-Wicket Win

Mohammad Hafeez was unbeaten on 139 as Pakistan thrashed Zimbabwe

©REUTERS / Action Images

Pakistan 228-0 (Mohammad Hafeez 139no) beat
Zimbabwe 225-6 (Masakadza 68) by 10 wickets
Second One-Day International, Harare
Scorecard

Mohammad Hafeez cracked an unbeaten century as Pakistan brushed aside Zimbabwe to take a series-clinching ten-wicket win in the second One-Day International in Harare.

After Zimbabwe had battled to 225 for six with Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor making half-centuries, Hafeez hit 139 in 147 balls as Pakistan rattled off the runs required with 49 balls remaining.

His opening partner Imran Farhat made 75 in 106 balls as none of the seven bowlers used by Zimbabwe could make a breakthrough in a match that couldn't have been more of a contrast to the opening match in the three-game series which Pakistan held on to win by just five runs.

Zimbabwe made a skittish start, openers Vusi Sibanda (14) and Chamu Chibhaba (9) hitting a boundary apiece before falling cheaply before Masakadza's 68 and Taylor's 50 steered them to a solid position thanks to a 102-run partnership for the third wicket.

Taylor fell when he was caught by substitute Asad Shafiq off the bowling of Junaid Khan and after Masakadza was run out, they also lost the wickets of Tatenda Taibu (26) and Malcolm Waller (11) before Elton Chigumbura blasted 17 in ten balls and Prosper Utseya 12 in eight to give them some hope of defending their total.

In the event, they either needed plenty more runs or wickets and with Hafeez in rich form and Farhat also playing nicely at the other end, Pakistan ended up dominating the match.

Hafeez stroked 13 fours and a six while Farhat hit six fours.

The final game of the series is on 14th September.

© Cricket World 2011