da jogodeouro： Karachi, April 5: Pakistan made a winning start to their tour of WestIndies when they defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets in the tri-nationone-day series match at Antigua’s Recreation Park
06-Apr-2000Karachi, April 5: Pakistan made a winning start to their tour of WestIndies when they defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets in the tri-nationone-day series match at Antigua’s Recreation Park.Chasing a target of 200, Pakistan achieved victory with 17 balls tospare. Abdur Razzaq (28 not out) hit the winning boundary. With himwas Moin Khan (25 not out). Shahid Afridi who blasted two sixes andfive fours in his breezy run-a-ball 69 put But Pakistan on course fora comfortable win.Afridi, adjudged Man-of-the-Match, added 67 runs for the third wicketwith Inzamam-ul-Haq (32). But both the batsmen perished in anidentical fashion – holing out in the deep off Dirk Viljoen.Pakistan found themselves in some sorts of problems when YousufYouhana (21) was run-out in a terrible mix-up with Moin Khan.Pakistan restrict ZimbabweAntigua, April 5: Backed up by some sharp catching and groundfielding, Pakistan restricted Zimbabwe to 199 for nine in the thirdmatch of the tri-nation one-day series at the Recreation Ground hereon Wednesday.The target is not that challenging considering Pakistan’s depth inbatting, but to achieve it they will have to bat really well tomaintain nearly four runs an over.Considering the state of the wicket, which seemingly is slow and alsohas the tendency to keep low with uneven bounce, the Zimbabweans didwell even to reach the ultimate score.An opening stand of 59 between Grant Flower and Neil Johnson was agood enough launching pad for Zimbabwe. But none of the batsmen wereable to get hold of the Pakistan bowling which rarely allowed anyliberty to the batsmen.Pakistan spinners Mushtaq Ahmad, Shahid Afridi and Arshad Khan sentdown tidy and economical overs to be rewarded with wickets. Alsoimpressive with the leather were Waqar Younis, Abdur Razzaq andMohammad Akram.Pakistan had their first breakthrough when out-of-form Grant Flowerplayed uppishly at short mid-wicket to be caught by Younis Khan offRazzaq when 36. Two runs later Johnson, also struggling to gain someform, was well taken at mid-wicket by Imran Nazir off spinner ArshadKhan for 20.Stuart Carlisle and Murray Goodwin did attempt to force the pace butwithout success. They, however, did share a stand of 41 runs for thethird wicket.Leg-spinner Mushtaq, playing after a long absence, lured Carlisle tothe deep mid-wicket region where Yousuf Youhana had no problem inmaking the catch. Carlisle made 30 with four fours in 38 balls.Goodwin, attempting a massive hit, lofted the ball on the top of thewicket-keeper’s head and Imran Nazir, running from covers, took yetanother catch as Goodwin went for 16 in the 27th over with Zimbabwe on109.Derek Viljoen made three before being run out by Younis Khan.Andy Flower, the captain, and Guy Whittall salvaged the situation alittle to add 33 for the sixth wicket. Flower, like Carlisle, alsowent hitting the ball in the air when 18.Heath streak dropped twice, once by Moin Khan off Razzaq when 13 andagain by Younis Khan of Mohammad Akram, finally holed out to Moinedging Mohammad Akram but not before adding 37 runs with Whittall whokept the score going. Not much later, Mluleki Nkala fell to WaqarYounis and Whittall became the ninth man out as he swung and missed toAkram. He made 31 off 65 balls with only one four.