3rd ODI: Pakistan rout Zimbabwe to win series 2-1

Three run outs cost Zimbabwe dear as they slumped to a 108-run loss and a 2-1 series defeat to Pakistan in the third one-day international at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Set 261 to win, Zimbabwe made a solid start, but poor running cost them the key wickets of skipper Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams and Prosper Utseya as they slumped to 152 all out in 40 overs.

It was a disappointing end to the series for the home side, who won the first match on Tuesday.

Saturday's decider was overshadowed by the team's dispute with the Zimbabwe cricket board over unpaid salaries.

Having won the toss and elected to field, Zimbabwe's bowlers contained Pakistan well in the first 25 overs, even if they found wickets hard to come by.

But when Mohammad Hafeez left the field injured in the 23rd over, it brought captain Misbah-ul-Haq to the wicket and the tempo changed.

Pakistan scored 94 runs in the first half of their innings and 166 in the second, with Misbah's 67 a key factor. Ahmed Shehzad batted patiently for 54, while there was some power hitting from Umar Amin (33) and Sarfraz Ahmed (22) towards the end of the innings.

Tendai Chatara was the pick of the home bowlers, with three for 48 from his 10 overs.

"The ball wasn't coming on to the bat, but Umar did well when he came in and gave us some momentum. It changed the scenario of the game. We thought anything over 250 would be defendable on this wicket," Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq told a TV interview after the game.

Zimbabwe began their chase cautiously and never managed to get into a position where it looked as though they would threaten the target.

When Taylor (26) was run out by a direct hit from Misbah they had slumped to 66 for three, and the Pakistan skipper struck again to remove the dangerous Williams (2).

Utseya (23) briefly looked to build a partnership with innings top-scorer Malcolm Waller (48), but he too was involved in a mix-up in the middle and run out.

All seven Zimbabwe wickets that fell to bowlers were claimed by spinners as Pakistan strangled the scoring rate on a slow, turning track.

"We were up for it, we restricted them to a total we felt comfortable chasing, but there was a bit of panic there and we could not chase them down," Taylor said. "A couple of run outs did not help the cause."

ZIMBABWE INNINGS

Pakistan won the final one-day international against Zimbabwe by 108 runs and 10 overs to spare to win the three-match series 2-1.

Waller is the last man out as Zimbabwe are all out for 152 in 40 overs.

Malcolm Waller c Abdur Rehman b Saeed Ajmal 48 (71b 4x4 0x6)

It is all over bar the shouting now as Zimbabwe lose their ninth wicket. Zim 149-9.

T Panyangara c and b Abdur Rehman 1 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Zimbabwe are crumbling now as S Masakadza is bowled by Ajmal. Zimb 148-8.

SW Masakadza b Saeed Ajmal 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Utseya departs run out Pakistan break the Zimbabwe resistance. Zim 146-7.

Prosper Utseya run out 23 (50b 1x4 0x6)

Afridi traps Chigumbura leg before as Zimbabwe collapse to 87-6.

Elton Chigumbura lbw b Afridi 2 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Waller cracks Hafeez through the covers for a boundary. Zim 87-5 in 22 overs.

Williams is run out as Zimbabwe crash to 75-5 in 17 overs.

Sean Williams run out 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Waller steers Rehman to third man for a boundary.

Hafeez claims his second wicket trapping Raza plumb in front. Zim 68-4.

Sikandar Raza lbw b Hafeez 6 (16b 0x4 0x6)

Zimbabwe suffer major blow as Taylor is run out off a direct hit from Misbah. Zim 66-3.

Brendan Taylor run out 26 (29b 5x4 0x6)

Taylor is latching onto every opportunity punching Junaid through extra cover for another boundary. Zim 65-2 in 14 overs.

Taylor gets another boundary nudging Rehama to fine. Zim 58-2 in 13 overs.

Taylor whips Junaid to the leg side for a boundary. Zim 53-2 in 12 overs.

Masakadza turns it on smacking a four and a six off consecutive deliveries from Junaid Khan. Zim 45-1 in 10 overs.

Abdur Rehman strikes with his fourth delivery as Masakadza steps out to drive only to be beaten in the flight and stumped. Zim 48-2.

Hamilton Masakadza st Sarfraz Ahmed b Abdur Rehman 25 (42b 3x4 1x6)

Masakadza turns it on smacking a four and a six off consecutive deliveries from Junaid Khan. Zim 45-1 in 10 overs.

Masakadza smacks Irfan to midwicket for another boundary. Zim 34-1 in 7 overs.

Hafeez has been hit for a couple of boundaries each by Masakadza and Taylor. Zim 29-1 in 5 overs.

Taylor opens his account with a boundary off Hafeez making his intentions clear. Zim 17-1 in 4 overs.

Hafeez strikes as Sibanda is held in the deep by Amin who takes a good running catch. Zim 13-1.

Vusi Sibanda c Amin b Hafeez 2 (8b 0x4 0x6)

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Steady half-centuries from Misbah-ul-Haq and Ahmed Shehzad allowed Pakistan to apply a late flourish and reach a competitive score in the third one-day international against Zimbabwe in Harare on Saturday.

Misbah's 67 was particularly crucial to the Pakistani cause, as he battled through some early challenges before helping to lift his side to a total of 260 for six.

The series decider had been cast into doubt after Zimbabwe's players threatened to boycott the match over unpaid salaries and match fees, but the home side took the field after setting a new ultimatum for the first Test on Tuesday.

For a side with off-field distractions, the Zimbabweans started surprisingly well in the field after Brendan Taylor had won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat on a slow surface.

The tourists made a cautious start with openers Shehzad and Nasir Jamshed putting on 66 for the first wicket at a slow pace, and the innings became stilted when Jamshed departed and Mohammad Hafeez was forced to retire hurt soon after.

When Shehzad fell to part-timer Hamilton Masakadza for 54 in the 33rd over, Pakistan had just 119 on the board but Umar Amin lifted the scoring rate with a brisk 33.

Misbah reached fifty from 74 balls before opening up, while Sarfraz Ahmed and the returning Hafeez also weighed in as a late flurry brought 94 runs in the last 10 overs.

Hafeez gets another boundary off the final over from S Masakdza as Pakistan finish with a flourish on 260-6.

Misbah is held by  Raza who dropped him in the previous delivery. Pak 251-6.

Misbah-ul-Haq c Sikandar Raza b SW Masakadza 67 (85b 6x4 0x6)

Hafeez slams a boundary off S Masakadza.

Hafeez returns to complete his innings.

Sarfraz is caught behinde off Chatara who claims his third wicket. Pak 243-5.

Sarfraz Ahmed c Taylor b Chatara 22 (13b 2x4 0x6)

The big hits have yet to come from Misbah but keeps the scoreboard ticking with a couple of boundaries off Panyangara. Pak 233-4 in 47 overs.

Sarfraz doesn't take long to get going smashing S Masakadza for consecutive boundaries through midwicket and over the keeper. Pak 219-4 in 46 overs.

Misbah hooks Panyangara for the fine leg fence. Pak 205-4 in 45 overs.

Afridi does not last long edging behind off Chatara. Pak 195-4 in 44 overs.

Shahid Afridi c Taylor b Chatara 7 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Misbah has struck consecutive boundaries off Chatara having woken up from his slumber finally.

Misbah finally hits a boundary actually mishitting Chatara over gully.

There are no fireworks still from Afridi while Misbah is motoring along at less than 20kmph. Pak 186-3 in 43 overs.

Amin skips down the track and lofts Utseya over extra cover for another boundary but is out next ball chipping a return catch. Pak 170-3.

Umar Amin c and b Utseya 33 (25b 4x4 0x6)

Amin hits a couple of boundaries off Chatara past backward point and to fine leg. Pak 151-2 in 38 overs.

Misbah hits his first boundary after facing 36 balls by sweeping Williams to the midwicket fence. Pak 128-2 in 34 overs.

Shehzad's laboured knock comes to an end misucing to Raza in the deep. Pak 119-2.

Ahmed Shehzad c Sikandar Raza b H Masakadza 54 (85b 3x4 0x6)

Shehzad finally gets a boundary with a late cut off Williams. Pak 118-1 in 32 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza bowls a maiden to Misbah as Pakistan continue to struggle. Pak 110-1 in 31 overs.

Hafeez retires hurt with a hamstring injury. Pak 88-1 in 23 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez retired hurt 12 (27b 1x4 0x6)

Hafeez ends the drought of boundaries with his first by cutting Chatara to third man. Pak 84-1 in 22 overs.

Chatara strikes as Jamshed gets a thick edge behind. Pak 66-1.

Nasir Jamshed c Taylor b Chatara 38 (51b 3x4 1x6)

Jamshed hammers the first six of the match hooking S Masakadza over fine leg. Pak 55-0 in 12 overs.

Jamshed slams Panyangara over mid on for a welcome boundary for Pakistan. Pak 44-0 in 11 overs.

Slow start by Pakistan scoring just four boundaries in the Powerplay over. Pak 37-0 in 10 overs.

Shehzad showed the first signs of aggression coming down the track and lofting Panyangara through miwicket. Pak 36-0 in 9 overs.

Jamshed clips Panyangara through square leg for another boundary. Pak 25-0 in 7 overs.

Panyangara bowls a maiden to Shehzad. Pak 15-0 in 5 overs.

Shehzad hits his first boundary steering Panyangara to third man. Pak 15 for no loss in 4 overs.

Good opening over by Shingirai Masakadza conceding just two runs. Pak 7-0 in 2 overs.

Jamshed opens his account with an exquisite cover drive to the fence off Pangyangara. Pak 5-0 in 1 over.

It's game on in what is considered to be a final with Zimbabwe lookng for a historic series win and Pakistan aiming to bounce back.

Zimbabwe have won the toss and have put Pakistan into bat in the decision third one-day international on Saturday.

The match finally gets underway despite concerns after a threat of boycott by Zimbabwe players over non-payment of salaries.

Pakistan are unchanged while for Zimbabwe Shingi Masakadza comes in for Brian Vitori and Sikandar Raza for Timycen Maruma.

PLAYING XI

Zimbabwe: V Sibanda, H Masakadza, B Taylor, S  Williams, Sikandar Raza, M Waller, E Chigumbura, P Utseya, T Panyangara, T Chatara, S Masakadza
   
Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Amin, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan

BUILD UP

Zimbabwe players are considering whether to play the final one-day international against Pakistan in Harare on Saturday as they protest against the non-payment of salaries by their country's cricket board.

Zimbabwe, who beat Pakistan for the first time in 15 years in the first match of the series, did not hold an official training session on Friday because some players have not received their full July remuneration from Zimbabwe Cricket.

The players have now given Zimbabwe Cricket until Monday to pay the outstanding amounts, according to Zimbabwean media reports.

If they do not receive payment they are threatening to boycott the two-match Test series against Pakistan which starts on Tuesday.

A newly-formed players' union made up of senior individuals including captain Brendan Taylor, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda, had threatened to boycott the full Pakistan tour over the same grievances.

But after meeting with Zimbabwe Cricket on August 16, Taylor said he was satisfied that the players' complaints had been met with a positive response.

Strike action was also threatened before the tour by Bangladesh in May but that did go ahead.

The one-day series against Pakistan is level at 1-1 with the last match due to be played at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Zimbabwe did not play test cricket between 2006 and 2010 as they embarked on a self-imposed exile, fearing they could not be competitive in the five-day format.

They played only three one-day internationals in 2012, all in New Zealand, but are scheduled to host all four sub-continent full member sides this year with Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all due to tour.

Sri Lanka seek clarification on shelved Zimbabwe tour

Sri Lanka's scheduled tour of Zimbabwe has been thrown in doubt after the African nation sought to postpone the series starting in October without giving any specific details, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said on Friday.

"We received an e-mail from the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) seeking a postponement of the tour and the reason given was 'due to unavoidable circumstances'," SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga told reporters.

"No further reasons were given by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and we are awaiting further clarification on this matter."

Unconfirmed reports stated that the ZCU, which hosted India in July and are currently playing Pakistan at home, do not have the budget to host a third country in the space of four months.

Sri Lanka were due to tour Zimbabwe from Oct. 6-Nov. 4 to play two tests, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.
 

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