Pakistan on Lead

Zimbabwe started steadily in pursuit of 271 on a batsmen-friendly pitch in Harare. Vusi Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha built a solid foundation, with a century first-wicket stand, and settled in comfortably against a new-look Pakistan attack.

Unlike Pakistan, who were off to a flier, Zimbabwe were more watchful against the tricky left-arm seam of Sohail Tanvir and the more regulation right-arm pace of Sohail Khan. Their first shot of intent came off the last ball of the third over when Chibhabha cracked a short ball over the covers. Sibanda survived an early scare - he could have been run-out from a direct hit from Asad Shafiq, but was just over the line - and gave the chase momentum in the ninth over.

He smashed Tanvir for three boundaries, an aerial shot over square leg, a glance down the leg side and a cut through point. He managed to stay away from the pull shot, which has cost him his wickets six times this summer. Chibhabha, who had not performed in the previous two matches of the series, was more cautious and only risked hitting a big shot when he was certain it would reach the boundary, like the sublime stroke through the covers he smashed off Aizaz Cheema and the straight drive he rolled out down the ground.

Mohammad Hafeez was introduced in the 11th over and was economical without being threatening. Instead, he allowed Sibanda and Chibhabha to pace their partnership well, mostly by taking singles, which were easily on offer. Legspinner Yasir Shah had to wait until the 22nd over to make his debut but started encouragingly, giving the ball a fair amount of flight and throwing in a few googlies.

Sibanda took control as the innings neared its halfway mark. He launched Hafeez over the top on two occasions, both convincingly, and, having brought up his half-century looked set to take on the role of the aggressor as Zimbabwe embarked on the home stretch.

50 overs Pakistan 270 for 5 (Younis 81, Shafiq 51, Chigumbura 2-36) against Zimbabwe
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Pakistan's openers got their team off to a rapid start© Associated Press Enlarge
Related Links Matches: Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Harare Series/Tournaments: Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe Teams: Pakistan | Zimbabwe

Pakistan were kept to 270 after getting off to a flier against Zimbabwe in Harare. On a batsmen friendly pitch, Pakistan would have aimed for a total of around 300, and with Younis Khan playing a classy and composed knock, that looked possible, but Zimbabwe bowled well in the end overs to drag Pakistan back. Zimbabwe's spinners and Elton Chigumbura did a fine containing job, and the new-ball pair of Brian Vitori and Kyle Jarvis bowled better as the match went on, to ensure that Pakistan did not run away with the game.

Brendan Taylor chose to field to give his seamers the chance to make use of the slightly overcast morning conditions. The ball was expected to swing, and it did, but Vitori struggled to control his movement at one end while his new-ball partner Jarvis battled to find the correct length.

In the absence of senior paceman Chris Mpofu, the inexperience of Zimbabwe's seamers was exposed and the two youngsters served up a range of short and wide deliveries with Vitori also occasionally straying too far down the leg side. It took three overs for the pair to find the correct length, which was a touch short on this surface, but any small deviation was punished, as Jarvis found out when he bowled a fuller length to Imran Farhat, who pounced to smash him over point.

The pair adjusted well and made up for their early inconsistencies although they conceded heavily in the first ten overs. Reward came in unexpected fashion when Vitori banged in a shorter one and got some extra bounce, which surprised Mohammad Hafeez. The batsman was unable to keep the ball down and pulled straight to Malcolm Waller at deep midwicket.

Elton Chigumbura and Ray Price tied Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq down and dragged the run-rate to just over five. The allrounder found his lengths from the start and frustrated Farhat before enticing him to drive with a fuller, slower delivery that the opener played into the hands of Chamu Chibhabha at cover.

Younis was not as easily tempted. He was happy to see off the good length ball and attack anything overpitched or tossed up, bringing up his fifty with a gorgeous inside-out shot over extra cover. Asad struggled against some tight bowling early in his innings, but Younis helped him find his rhythm and the pair began to rotate the strike well.

Zimbabwe's fielders put on a mixed display, saving some boundaries while letting others through and taking some improbable catches while dropping others. Shafiq was stumped after nifty work by Tatenda Taibu who collected the ball off the rebound from his own chest to remove the bails and Shoaib Malik, who has yet to play an authoritative innings since making his comeback, was brilliantly caught by Chigumbura, low down in his follow through.

Younis looked set for a hundred but was also caught in impressive fashion when Jarvis pouched a return catch after eliciting the drive. With wickets in hand in the last 10 overs, Pakistan looked to Adnan Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq to launch, but the pair added just 55 runs together. Prosper Uteya and Ray Price were crafty with their lengths, opting to bowl fuller most of the time, and Jarvis and Vitori were left to deal with the Powerplay. Jarvis, in particular, showed great maturity in his use of the yorker and proved difficult to get away.