RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s part-time off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed restricted Zimbabwe to 206 runs in the second one-day international here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Iftikhar captured five wickets for 40 runs in his quota of 10 overs of which two were maiden.
For Zimbabwe, Sean Williams top-scored with a brilliant 75 off 70 balls, hitting ten fours and a six.
He was followed by Branden Taylor, the century-maker in the first ODI at the same venue, who made 36 and Brian Chari, who scored 25.
Zimbabwe chose to bat first after captain Chamu Chibhabha won the toss in the second one-day international (ODI) against Pakistan.
Pakistan had won the first match by 26 runs at the same venue on Friday and have now brought in 20-year-old pair Haider Ali and Musa Khan for their ODI debuts. The former replaced Haris Sohail who pulled a left leg muscle in the first match while the latter takes place of Wahab Riaz, who is rested due to a niggle.
Zimbabwe kept the same line-up as the first match, resisting the temptation of bringing in the experienced batsman Elton Chigumbura.
The final match in the three-game series at the same venue on Tuesday.
Sunday’s match is a milestone 210th ODI for Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar, beating the world record of 209 he held jointly with South Africa’s Rudi Koertzen.
Aleem already holds the records for officiating in the most Test matches (132) and the most international matches (387) of any umpire.
Pakistan
Babar Azam (capt), Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Haider Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Musa Khan
Zimbabwe
Chamu Chibhabha (capt), Brian Chari, Carl Mumba, Tendai Chisoro, Craig Ervine, Wessley Madhevere, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams
Umpires
Aleem Dar (PAK) and Asif Yaqoob (PAK)
TV umpire
Ahsan Raza (PAK)
Match referee
Mohammad Javed (PAK)
