Skipper Azhar scores century as Pakistan win 2nd ODI, series against Zimbabwe

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AFP
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Skipper Azhar scores century as Pakistan win 2nd ODI, series against Zimbabwe
LAHORE: Thanks to brilliant batting display by the batting side specially captain Azhar Ali, who scored a 104-ball 102, Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 6 wickets in the 2nd ODI, wining the three-match series by 2-0.

Zimbabwe had set a respectable 269-run target for Pakistan courtesy brilliant unbeaten century by all-rounder Sikanadar Raza here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Pakistan-born Raza had completed his century on the fourth ball of the last over in just 84 deliveries with 8 fours and 3 sixes.

Everyone from Pakistani side contributed with the bat as the team crossed the winning line in 47.2 overs and only 4 wickets down.

Azhar Ali, who bagged "man of the match" award for his century today, had also played an important innings in Pakistan's first win over the visitors on Tuesday.

"It was a complete team effort," said Ali. "This is a good win but we have a long way to go as a team," he added.

Today’s victory over Zimbabwe is Pakistan’s first one-day series in 17 months.

Pakistan’s last one-day series win was against Sri Lanka in United Arab Emirates in December 2013.

Azhar hit eight boundaries in his 104-ball knock and improved on his best score of 101 – made against Bangladesh in Dhaka last month – before falling with 69 needed to win.

Haris Sohail made 49-ball 52 with six fours and Shoaib Malik scored 20-ball 36 with four boundaries and a six to seal the win during their unbroken 60-run fifth wicket stand.

Ali set the victory tone by adding 46 for the first wicket with Sarfraz Ahmed (22), 85 for the third wicket with Asad Shafiq (39) and 56 for the next with Sohail.

The visitors had posted the total of 268 for the loss of 7 wickets. Opener Chibhabha with 99 off 100 deliveries was the other prominent batsman in Zimbabwe's innings.

Chibhabha's career-best 100-ball knock had 11 fours and a six after Pakistan won the toss and opted to field at Gaddafi Stadium.

Pacer Wahab Riaz and leg-spinner Yasir Shah took 2 wickets each while Anwar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik shared a wicket each for Pakistan.

Raza was in brilliant form as he lifted Zimbabwe total with a flurry of boundaries, getting 59 runs in the last six overs.

This came after Chibhabha became the first Zimbabwean batsman to be dismissed for 99 in a one-day international.

Before Chibhabha three Zimbabwean batsmen – Malcolm Waller, Alistair Campbell and Andy Flower – all made 99 in a one-day for Zimbabwe but they all remained not out.

Zimbabwe, forced to make four changes after their regular captain Elton Chigumbura was suspended for two matches over slow over rate in the previous game, were given a solid but slow start of 83 by Chibhabha and Vusi Sibanda (13).

Hamilton Masakadza, leading the team in Chigumbura´s absence, fell for 18 when he was adjudged caught in the slip but television replays showed the ball only hit his arm.

"The guys tried hard with Raza and Chibhabha coming good but we were 20-30 runs short," said Masakadza.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah dismissed Masakadza and Sean Williams (five) to finish with 2-40 in his ten overs.

Chibhabha, whose previous best one-day score of 73 came against the West Indies at Harare in 2007, was shaping well for his hundred but was caught behind off a miscued sweep on the bowling of spinner Shoaib Malik.

Raza then lifted the tempo with some big hitting, taking 17 off Mohammad Sami´s 48th over before reaching his second one-day hundred in the final over.

Pakistan made no change from the side which won the first match by 41 runs on Tuesday, also in Lahore.

Massive security remained in place with 4,000 policemen guarding the stadium during all matches.

Zimbabwe´s tour has revived international cricket in Pakistan after a six-year gap. International cricket was suspended in Pakistan since terrorists attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.

The third and final match will also be played in Lahore on Sunday–AFP/Geo News