Bulawayo, 24 November 2024: New-look Pakistan batting ruined Faisal Akram’s impressive debut as Zimbabwe won the first ODI by 80 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method here on Sunday.
Faisal returned figures of 8-0-24-3 and combined with Salman Ali Agha (three for 42) to dismiss Zimbabwe for 205 in 40.2 overs. However, a horror batting display by Pakistan batters left the tourists reeling at 60 for six in 21 overs before rain down and ended any further play.
Only three Pakistan batters reached double-figures with captain Mohammad Rizwan scoring 19 not out, followed by Kamran Ghulam 17 and Saim Ayub 11. Muhammad Irfan Khan scored seven, Salman Ali Agha four, Abdullah Shafique one and Haseebullah no score were the disappointments of the day
Sikandar Raza claimed two for seven, Blessing Muzarabani picked up two for nine and Sean Williams snapped up two for 12.
Earlier, Zimbabwe batted positively on a slow deck despite being regularly losing wickets to be dismissed for 205 in 40.2 overs. No.9 batter Richard Ngarava with 48 off 52 balls with five fours and a six was the top-scorer, followed by Sikandar Raza (39), Tadiwanashe Marumani (29), Sean Williams (23) and Brian Bennett (20) being the other run-scorers.
Zimbabwe were 125 for seven after the halfway stage before Ngarava and Raza put on 62 runs for the eighth wicket off 69 balls. The other partnership of note was for the first wicket when Marumani and Joylord Gumbie (15) put on 40 runs in 35 balls.
21-year-old Faisal Akram, a product of the PCB’s Pathways Programme and a former Pakistan U16 and U19 left-arm wrist spinner, accounted for Raza, Mavuta and Muzarabani to make a memorable debut.
While Salman Ali Agha also made an impact with his off-spinners, taking three wickets for 42 runs, the pace trio of Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf had a tough day on a slow surface, collectively conceding 121 runs for three wickets in 21.2 overs (economy-rate of 5.7).
The second ODI will be played on Tuesday at the same venue.
Scores in brief:
Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by 80 runs in DLS method
Zimbabwe 205, all-out 40.2 overs (Richard Ngarava 48, Sikandar Raza 39, Tadiwanashe Marumani 29, Sean Williams 23, Brian Bennett 20; Faisal Akram 3-24, Salman Ali Agha 3-42)
Pakistan 60-6, 21 overs (Sikandar Raza 2-7, Blessing Muzarabani 2-9, Sean Williams 2-12)
