After the loss in the first ODI to Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, Pakistan began to be ridiculed. That Pakistan took 'sweet revenge' within 48 hours. Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in Bulawayo today in the second ODI of the series.
Saim Ayyub may have known the target of 146 runs on the scoreboard today. But what was the version, that was out of his head. He took the first century of his ODI career off 53 balls. On the day of his sweeping century, Pakistan won the match by 10 wickets with 190 balls in hand. The Pakistan-Zimbabwe three-match ODI series is now tied at 1-1.
Pakistan's opening pair could have broken the target of 36 runs. In the third ball of the seventh over, Abdullah Shafiq went to drive the ball outside the offside of Blazing Mujarabani. Shaun Williams could not take the catch even with a dive at backward point. On the very next ball, Shafiq hit a four through point-backward point. Pakistan scored 71 runs without losing any wicket in the first 10 overs. Sime got the second fifty of his ODI career off 32 balls.
Fifty-year-old Saim, in a T20 mood, continued the rampage, leaving his partner Shafiq as a spectator at one end. Sime hit Brandon Mavuta for four in the first three balls of the 14th over. The rampaging Sime brought up his century in the first ball of the 17th over by pooling Sikander Raja through mid-wicket. The man of the match award went to Sime. This Pakistani batsman remained unbeaten with 113 runs off 62 balls with 17 fours and 3 sixes. He also took 1 wicket after spending 16 runs in 4 overs bowling. Shafiq, who became a spectator at one end, gave the 'finishing touch'. The second ball of the 19th over gave Raja a four to square leg to give Pakistan a huge 10-wicket win.
Zimbabwe captain Craig Irvine won the toss and elected to bat in the second ODI at Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo today. The hosts became 23 for 2 in 3.5 overs. From here, Irvin and Dion Myers made a partnership of 38 runs off 51 balls for the third wicket. Agha Salman trapped Myers LBW in the third ball of the 14th over to break the partnership. Salman quickly returned Arvin too. Quickly losing 2 wickets, Zimbabwe scored 68 runs for 4 wickets in 15 overs.
Twin shock Zimbabwe then found direction in the middle order batting. Williams contributed to make two pairs of 29 and 24 runs in the fifth and sixth wickets. Williams was partnered by Sikandar Raja and Brian Bennett for the fifth and sixth wickets. From here, Zimbabwe lost 4 wickets for 24 runs and collapsed to 145 runs. Myers scored 33 runs in the innings. This Zimbabwean batsman hit 6 fours in 30 balls. Pakistan's best bowler Abrar Ahmed took 4 wickets in the match. Abrar bowled 8 overs on ODI debut. 2 overs given by Maiden.
