2nd ODI Zimbabwe v Pakistan: Pakistan win by 90 runs to level series

An unbeaten 136 from Mohammad Hafeez laid the platform for Pakistan as they beat Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second one-day international in Harare on Thursday.

A confident batting display, with just one half-chance offered to the home side, saw Hafeez anchor a high-scoring game as Pakistan made 299 for four off their 50 overs.

In reply, Zimbabwe fell well short but only after a promising partnership between captain Brendan Taylor and Malcolm Waller was broken with another 100 runs required off the last 11 overs.

The three-match series is now tied a 1-1 after Zimbabwe recorded their first win over Pakistan in 15 years on Tuesday.

The third and deciding match is also at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Hafeez reached his second highest score in one-day cricket off 205 balls and was he ably supported by Umar Amin (59) and a late cameo from the swashbuckling Shahid Afridi.

Pakistan upped their scoring rate considerably towards the end of the innings as Afridi smashed an unbeaten 39 off 35 balls, setting Zimbabwe the target of a run per ball to win.

"We wanted to win comprehensively but we were looking at about 260, we never thought we'd get up near 300. The wicket was a little green at the start but the conditions improved," Hafeez said after accepting the man of the match award.

A fiery opening spell from Mohammad Irfan stalled Zimbabwe's openers initially but Hamilton Masakadza (24) cut loose before a length ball from Junaid Khan bowled him.

Taylor's application offered Zimbabwe hope of chasing down the formidable target as he combined first with Sean Williams (37) and then Waller.

But as Zimbabwe reached 200 in the 39th over, Taylor, well set on 79, top-edged a high ball that the seven-foot Irfan plucked out of the air with one hand, sparking a lower-order collapse.

Waller went for 40 two balls later off an inside edge as he tried to run the ball down to third man and the last four wickets followed with the addition of just nine more runs.

"Chasing 300 against an attack like Pakistan was always going to be difficult but we were in with a chance before we let it go. It seemed to just run away from us," Taylor said.

ZIMBABWE INNINGS

Pakistan win the second one-day international against Zimbabwe by 90 runs to level the three-match series at Harare on Thursday. Chasing a target of 300, Zimbabwe were comfortably placed at 200 for four in the 38th over.

But Ajmal and Junaid Khan struck removing skipper Brendan Taylor (79) and Malcolm Waller (40) in successive delivers to end a promising 65-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Zimbabwe lost their last five wicket for just nine runs in 29 balls to be bundled out inside 43 overs.

Double strike by Rehman as last man Vitori is caught by Irfan as Zimbabwe are all out for 209 in 42.4 overs.

Brian Vitori c Irfan b Rehman 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Chatara is caught behind off Rehman. Zim 209-9.

T Chatara c Ahmed b Rehman 2 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

Junaid Khan claims his fourth wicket bowling Utseya off an inside edge. Zim 206-8.

Prosper Utseya b Junaid Khan 3 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Zimbabwe lose their third wicket in quick succession as Chigumbura is trapped leg before for a first-ball duck. Zim 201-7.

Elton Chigumbura lbw b Junaid Khan 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Zimbabwe slump to 200-6 as Junaid Khan returns to bowl Waller.

Brendan Taylor c Irfan b Ajmal 79 (95b 6x4 1x6)

Ajmal strikes as Taylor sweep straight to Irfan. Zim 200-5.

Brendan Taylor c Irfan b Saeed Ajmal 79 (95b 6x4 1x6)

Ajmal strikes as Williams dances down the track only to be stumped by Ahmed. Zim 135-4.

Sean Williams st Sarfraz Ahmed b Saeed Ajmal 37 (38b 4x4 0x6)

Afridi is hit for a couple of boundaries by Taylor and Williams. Zim 132-3 in 26 overs.

Williams cracks consecutive boundaries off Ajmal, including a reverse sweep. Zim 113-3 in 23 overs.

Maruma is run out attempting a cheeky single. Zim 65-3.

T Maruma run out 8 (27b 0x4 0x6)

Masakadza is bowled neck and crop by Junaid Khan. Zim 42-2.

Hamilton Masakadza b Junaid Khan 24 (28b 5x4 0x6)

Masakadza gets a couple of boundaries off Irfan, including from a free hit. Zim 28-1 in 5 overs.

Taylor hits consecutive boundaries off Rehman, including a reverse sweep. Zim 15-1 in 4 overs.

Ahmed takes a skier behind as Sibanda tries to hit Irfan out of the park. Zim 6-1.

Vusi Sibanda c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Irfan 2 (6b 0x4 0x6)

PAKISTAN INNINGS

A superb unbeaten century by Mohammad Hafeez (136) and a powerful 23-ball cameo of 39 from Shahid Afridi saw Pakistan post 299-4 in 50 overs after being put into bat by Zimbabwe in the second one-day international on Thursday.

Hafeez's 130-ball knock was studded with five sixes and nine boundaries.

Afridi smashed three sixes during his knock adding 86 runs in 45 balls for the unfinished fifth wicket.

Hafeez shared in a 129-run stand for the fourth wicket with Umar Amin (59) whose maiden ODI half century came off 71 balls and contained five boundaries and a six.

Afridi slams a six off Vitori over extra cover in the final as Pakistan finish with a flourish to reach 299-4 in 50 overs.

Afridi slots a straight six off Panyangara. Pak 287-4 in 49 overs.

Hafeez glides Vitori to the fine leg fence. Pak 275-4 in 48 overs.

The 50 partnership between Hafeez and Afridi comes off just 31 balls.

Hafeez slams Panyangara for a couple of sixes over long and midwicket. Pak 262-4 in 47 overs.

Hafeez whips Viroti past square leg. Pak 245-4 in 46 overs.

Afridi opens up with consecutive boundaries off Panyangara, including a six over extra cover. Pak 235-4 in 45 overs.

Hafeez completes his sixth ODI century off 111 balls. It contained seven boundaries and three sixes. Pak 222-4 in 44 overs.

Amin is run out by a direct hit from Chatara after a 129-run stand for the fourth wicket with Hafeez. Pak 213-4.

Umar Amin run out 59 (71b 5x4 1x6)

Boundaries are coming thick and fast off the blades of Hafeez and Amin. Pak 212-3 in 42 overs.

Amin cracks Panyangara through point for a boundary and completes his maiden ODI half century with a single. Pak 193-3 in 40 overs.

Amin brings up the 100 partnership for the fourth wicket with Hafeez by hoisting Chatara for a six and cracking a boundaries off consecutive balls. Pak 185-3 in 39 overs.

Hafeez glides Panyangara down to fine leg for a boundary. Pak 168-3 in 37 overs.

Amin cracks consecutive boundaries on either side off the wicket off Utseya. Pak 158-3 in 36 overs.

Boundaries seemed to have dried up for Pakistan. Pak 147-3 in 34 overs.

Hafeez drives Masakadza through extra cover. Pak 115-3 in 27 overs.

Hafeez completes his half century off 65 balls having hit three sixes and two boundaries.

Williams takes a superb catch at short midwicket to dismiss Misbah. Pak 84-3.

Misbah-ul-Haq c Williams b Vitori 3 (23b 0x4 0x6)

Misbah is let off by Vitori off Utseya while Hafeez slams him over long on for his second six. Pak 82-2 in 21 overs.

Hafeez launches into Utseya sending him sailing over long on for the first six of the match. Pak 72-2 in 19 overs.

Misbah opens his account with a single after facing 14 deliveries.

Chatara bowls a maiden to Hafeez this time in the first over after the drinks interval. Pak 65-2 in 18 overs.

Utseya bowls a second consecutive maiden to Misbah. Pak 65-2 in 17 overs.

Utseya strikes in his third over trapping Jamshed leg before. Pak 62-2.

Nasir Jamshed lbw b Utseya 32 (45b 3x4 0x6)

Hafeez has slashed Chatara over slip for another boundary to third man. Pak 60-1 in 12 overs.

Jamshed cracks Chatara through extra cover for another boundary. Pak 45-1 in 10 overs.

Hafeez clips Chatara to the square leg fence for his first boundary. Pak 33-1 in 8 overs.

Panyangara continues to keep it tight conceding just two runs in the seventh over. Pak 26-1.

Jamshed whips Vitori through midwicket for another boundary.

Vitori strikes as Shehzad drives straight to Maruma at backward point. Pak 12-1.

Ahmed Shehzad c Maruma b Vitori 5 (9b 1x4 0x6)

Jamshed whips Vitori off his pads to the square leg fence for his first boundary.

Shehzad flicks Vitori with a reflex shot down to fine leg for the first boundary of the match. Pak 4-0 in 2 overs.

Panyangara opens with a maiden to Jamshed.

Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor won the toss and opted to bowl in the second one-day international against Pakistan at Harare Sports club on Thursday.

The hosts romped to a seven-wicket win in the first match and are eyeing a historic series win.

Taylor aims to exploit the early moisture on a pitch which has a greenish tinge.

Pakistan have brought in Abdur Rehman for Haris Sohail to strengthen their attack.

Zimbabwe are unchanged.

PLAYING XI

Zimbabwe: V Sibanda, H Masakadza, B Taylor, S Williams, T Maruma, M Waller, E Chigumbura, P Utseya, T Panyangara, T Chatara, B Vitori

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Amin, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan