Zimbabwe Select thrash Pakistan Shaheens to seal series win

HARARE: Mubasir Khan’s fighting century failed to trump Craig Ervine’s marathon 195-run knock as Zimbabwe Select thrash Pakistan Shaheens by 32-run in the sixth one-day to seal the six-match series 4-2.

Set to chase a mammoth 386, Pakistan Shaheens’ batters showcased a valiant effort in the pursuit but ended up 32 runs short as they were bundled out for 353 in the final over despite Mubasir Khan’s century.

Pakistan Shaheens had a dismal start to the run chase as they were three down for just 50 runs in the 10th over.

Following the early setback, wicketkeeper batter Rohail Nazir and skipper Kamran Ghulam launched the recovery as the pair stitched a gritty 108-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

They were looking in control until Luke Jongwe got rid of Kamran Ghulam briefly after the captain amassed his half-century. He struck 56 in 47 deliveries, hitting six boundaries and a six.

Rohail Nazir then received another strong firm at the other end as Mubasir Khan joined him in the middle after Ghulam’s dismissal and they put on another vital partnership for Pakistan Shaheens.

The duo of Nazir and Khan added 98 runs to the team’s total at a brisk rate but Sean Williams dented their expedition with a timely blow by removing the former, who fell just 13 runs short of his well-deserved century.

Nazir smashed six boundaries and three sixes on his way to a 91-ball 87.

Mubasir Khan stood his ground firm while Pakistan Shaheens’ lower order batters failed to lend significant support to the young batter at the backend and thus the former fell short of propelling his side to glory despite a brilliant century knock, which ended in the final over.

Mubasir Khan top scored for Pakistan Shaheens with a quickfire 115 off just 77 balls, laced up with six boundaries and eight sixes.

Sikandar Raza led the bowling charge of Zimbabwe Select with 3/66, followed by Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga and Jongwe, who took two wickets each.

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Zimbabwe Select thwarted Pakistan Shaheens’ bowlers as they piled up a humongous total on the scoreboard at the back of an astonishing knock by Craig Ervine.

The home side had a contrasting start to their innings after they were put into bat first as Zimbabwe Select lost an early wicket on the second delivery of the innings after Mohammad Ali dismissed Joylord Gumbie for a duck.

Following an early hiccup, Craig Ervine and Innocent Kaia launched the recovery as the pair built a strong partnership for the second wicket.

The duo of Craig Ervine and Innocent Kaia added 187 runs to the total before Mohammad Ali struck again in the 28th over and devoided Kaia of his well-deserved hundred.

Kaia fell just eight runs short of the landmark as he scored a brisk 92 off just 79 deliveries, laced up with 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Meanwhile, Craig Ervine stood his ground firm after Kaia’s dismissal and stitched brief partnerships with Sikandar Raza (15), Sean Williams (20), and Wessly Madhevere (8) before finally receiving significant support from Ryan Burl.

The sixth-wicket partnership between Craig Ervine and Ryan Burl (31 off 18) changed the momentum of the game as the duo added 71 runs in just 34 deliveries until both perished in the final over.

Craig Ervine smashed 22 boundaries and six sixes on his way to a magnificent 195 runs in just 148 deliveries.

For Pakistan Shaheens, Aamer Jamal and Mohammad Ali bagged two wickets each while Qasim Akram and Mehran Mumtaz struck out a batter each.