Wasim Akram ripped through Zimbabwe's batting to guide Pakistan to an emphatic win in the second one day international on Sunday.

Zimbabwe were 140 for six after 33 overs when rain ended the match. Pakistan, who totalled 344 for five after winning the toss and batting first, were declared winners by 104 runs according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Stalwart left arm fast bowler Wasim Akram reduced Zimbabwe to 20 for four in the ninth over. He trapped Stuart Matsikenyeri in front with the first ball the batsman had faced, the fourth of the innings, bowled Andy Flower for a third ball duck and Grant Flower off the edge for one, and had Barney Rogers caught behind by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal for another duck.

Wasim Akram, who straightened the ball off the seam consistently, finished with four for 22 from seven overs. Zimbabwe never had a realistic chance of winning after that, but an unbroken stand of 76 off as many balls for the seventh wicket between Tatenda Taibu and Sean Ervine earned them respectability.

Tatenda was 30 not out with Ervine's unbeaten 61 coming off 41 balls and featuring nine fours and two sixes.

Earlier Salim Elahi struck a career best 107 then Yousuf Youhana smashed 76 from only 34 balls as Pakistan piled on the runs. Youhana reached his 50 from 34 deliveries and hit eight sixes and three fours in all in a total of 344 for five after Waqar Younis had won the toss and elected to bat.

Elahi dominated an opening partnership of 159 off 199 balls with Taufeeq Umar, whose grafting 76 off 113 balls, including three fours and a six, anchored the innings.

Tatenda Taibu squandered chances to end the opening stand at 29 and 93, both involving Taufeeq (15 and 28). The wicketkeeper misjudged a skied catch off the bowling of medium pacer Sean Ervine in the sixth over and dropped the ball to miss a stumping from off-spinner Richard Sims in the 18th.

Shahid Afridi came in at the eventual fall of the first wicket and hit a four and three sixes, two of them consecutively over point and cover off debutant medium pacer Waddington Mwayenga. He scored 30 off 18 balls before holing out to Andy Flower at long-on off brother Grant in the 39th over.

 

Pakistan raced to an easy ten-wicket victory over Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo soon after lunch on the fourth day of the match. Left 57 to win, they took only 8.3 overs to get there without losing a wicket.

Zimbabwe got off to the worst possible start to the fourth day, losing Andy Flower to the fourth ball of the morning without addition to their overnight score of 171 for five. A ball from Waqar Younis jagged back viciously from the pitch to trap him plumb lbw inside the crease. Flower was out for 13 to complete what for him was a disappointing series, with only one fifty to his credit. All hopes of setting Pakistan any sort of belated challenge or achieving a draw, with no rain at all likely, were crushed.

Andy Blignaut began confidently, but had an escape when on 7 as slip Inzamam was slow to react to an edge that flew to his left. He continued to live dangerously, but the impression was that his approach was more `let's have a bash' rather than `let's make a fight of it'. Waqar tried to trap him with a few bouncers, and Blignaut pulled him for two fine sixes, and was then dropped near the boundary attempting a third. Waqar may still bowl with tremendous skill, but his once feared pace has gone, especially on this slow pitch.

Tatenda Taibu did his part well, and the fifty partnership came up off only 59 balls - of which Blignaut scored 37. Shortly afterwards Zimbabwe saved the innings defeat and went into credit with four wickets remaining. Blignaut immediately threw his wicket away, leaping extravagantly down the pitch, head in the air, to Saqlain and was easily stumped. His 41 came off 32 balls and included two sixes and four fours.

Mluleki Nkala continued the fight with Taibu, but was surprised to be given out by umpire Venkat, caught at the wicket for 14, trying to hit Saqlain out of the ground, possibly the first really dubious dismissal of the match. Raymond Price, usually dour in Tests, experimented with the long handle and reached double figures for the first time in Tests before being bowled for 12 by a superb leg-cutter from Mohammad Sami.

Henry Olonga held out with Taibu until lunch, after which Pakistan took the second new ball. The last pair did not survive long, as Taibu chipped an easy catch to mid-on for 57, leaving Olonga unbeaten with 3 and Pakistan with 57 to win.

A wide and two fours by Taufeeq Umar off the first over, bowled by Olonga, suggested a canter. Price opened from the other end and was hit for four and six by Saleem Elahi, following which Olonga dropped a return catch from Taufeeq. The batsmen dealt mainly in boundaries; the batsmen did not need to run until they scored the 39th run of the innings.

When Saleem turned Olonga to leg for the winning run, he had 30 (four fours, two sixes) and Taufeeq 21 (five fours). Pakistan thus deservedly completed a two-nil victory in the series.

**.Pakistan teams for Zimbabwe tour
Pakistan Cricket Board - 26 October 2002

The Pakistan cricket team for next month's tour to Zimbabwe was announced by the Chairman of Selectors Wasim Bari in a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Pakistan will play two Tests and five one-day internationals between November 1 and December 1. Team for the tour to South Africa will be announced later on.

A squad of 15 players was named for the Tests while 16 players were announced for the one-dayers. Waqar Younis was retained as the captain while Inzamam-ul-Haq returned as vice-captain.

Wasim Bari said Saeed Anwar was left out because he lacked confidence and his fielding has also deteriorated. "Saeed has been with the team since May and has struggled for form and confidence. In a match on Friday on his home turf, he batted at number four which also confirms our apprehensions", Bari told newsmen, adding: "But curtains have not fallen on his career and he will be considered for selection in future".

On the recall of Saleem Elahi, Wasim Bari said: "An extended run was given to all the youngsters. But after their failure to perform at the highest level, we reverted to the best opener that was available in the domestic circuit and Saleem Elahi happened to be that player. Besides, the skipper and the coach also had confidence in his abilities. Taufeeq Umar has looked better than others despite not living up to expectations against Australia. But he has been retained because we feel that he has the talent. As regards Imran Farhat, the boy showed flashes of brilliance in the third Test against Australia but at the same time he showed that he needs sometime to mature".

Wasim Akram was not considered for the Tests but was named in the one-day side. "Wasim wants to concentrate on one-day cricket and that's why he is in the one-day team. The selection committee is also convinced that he is a utility cricketer in that brand of cricket".

Hasan Raza was included for the Tests but will be replaced by Misbah-ul-Haq for the one-dayers. "Hasan's batting style suits longer version of the game while Misbah was more consistent in one-day cricket".

"We have not pressed any panic button in the aftermath of defeat against Australia though we are bitterly disappointed that the youngsters didn't perform to their potential. But we have kept faith in them and only those senior boys have been recalled who were unavailable on fitness grounds".

"Yousuf Youhana has recovered from the shoulder injury while Inzamam-ul-Haq has confirmed his availability and has also told that his heart is there. His doctor has also given him a clean bill of health".

On the inclusion of uncapped Kamran Akmal, Wasim Bari said; "When Moin Khan was the first choice wicketkeeper, we attached a youngster who could be groomed for future. We have maintained that policy this time also when Rashid Latif is the first choice wicketkeeper. The impression that Moin Khan's career is over, is totally incorrect".

Wasim Bari also defended his committee in the backdrop of team's performance against Australia. "My term of reference is to select the best available team in the given conditions. I did that when some of the senior boys were missing. But my term of reference is not to make the team win. None of my selector is a member of the tour selection committee. Therefore, my committee's task finishes after we hand over the best available boys to the team management".