Ton-up Zimbabwe skipper to miss last two ODIs

LAHORE: Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura, who hit a rapid 95-ball 117 in the first one-day international (ODI) against Pakistan on Tuesday, will miss the last two matches of the three-match series after being banned for slow over-rate.

The two-match ban was imposed Wednesday by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the visiting team’s slow over-rate in the first Lahore ODI.

Pakistan outbat Zimbabwe by 41 runs on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series courtesy Shoaib Malik’s first century in six years.

Malik, playing his first one-dayer after two years, notched up a 76-ball 112 with 12 fours and two sixes to steer Pakistan to 375-3 – their highest against Zimbabwe – before restricting the tourists to 334-5 in 50 overs at Gaddafi Stadium.

In-form Zimbabwe skipper Chigumbura, in Tuesday’s match, hit 10 boundaries and four sixes in his maiden one-day hundred as his team also improved on their previous highest total against Pakistan, beating 295-9 in Bulawayo in 2002.

Chigumbura added 124 for the third wicket with Hamilton Masakadza (73) and another 74 for the fourth with Sean Williams (36).

The Zimbabwe batsman was bowled in the 45th over by paceman Wahab Riaz who was the best Pakistan bowler with 3-47.

Chigumbura’s previous best was 90 he made against South Africa at Bulawayo last year.

Chigumbura praised his team’s fight but blamed poor bowling for the loss.

"We did well in the chase but didn’t go hard in the last seven overs," he said Chigumbura. "It was satisfying to score a hundred but we must improve our bowling in the next matches."

The next two matches will be played on Friday and Sunday – also in Lahore.