Pakistan won the historic ODI series in Australia before setting foot in Zimbabwe. Their joy was crushed by Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe stunned Pakistan at the Queen's Park Stadium in Bulawayo. The hosts won the first ODI by DL method by 80 runs in the rain interrupted match.
Pakistan entered the field without several senior players. They stopped Zimbabwe for 205 runs. Pakistan fell into an easy target. Rain came to 60 runs for 6 wickets. The results were announced an hour before dusk in the incessant rain. Queenspark does not have flood lights. So no more games. Zimbabwe smiles in victory.
Batting first, Zimbabwe started well. They are in danger in the middle overs. Along with Agha Salman, newcomer Faisal Karim gave the hosts a tough test. At one point Zimbabwe's score stood at 125 for 7 wickets. However, the hosts crossed the 200 mark in the resistance of Ngarava and Sikandar Raja. Ngarava scored 48 runs in 52 balls. Raja played an important innings of 39 runs from 56 balls. Hosts all out in 40.2 overs.
Salman and Faisal took maximum three wickets each.
Pakistan's two openers fell victim to Blessing Mujarabani after going down the target. Raja took two wickets in one over. Shaun Williams also returned two batters for the visitors. The score stood at 58 runs for 6 wickets. And as soon as two runs were added, it rained. Then Mohammad Rizwan suffered his first loss as ODI captain in the rain.
After playing a great innings with the bat, Raja took 2 wickets with 7 runs in the bowling. He is the man of the match.
If they win one of the remaining two matches, Zimbabwe will taste the first ODI series win against Pakistan.
