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ZIM vs PAK 3rd ODI Highlights: Kamran Ghulam Tons Up Before Ayub, Jamal Help Pakistan Clinch Series

Aakash Saini

Kamran Ghulam stars with a century in the series decider [Source: @ICC/x]Kamran Ghulam stars with a century in the series decider [Source: @ICC/x]

Pakistan doused hosts Zimbabwe in the third ODI match at Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club on November 28. With the win, the ‘Men in Green’ clinched the three-match series by a 2-1 margin.

Here’s the timeline of how ZIM vs PAK panned out in Bulawayo:

ZIM vs PAK Highlights: Abdullah Shafique Charts Fine 50 In Confident Start

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Pakistan openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique put up a 58-run exhibition at the top of the order. A couple of days after recording one of Pakistan’s fastest ODI centuries, Ayub (31 off 37) sizzled with three boundaries and a six against Zimbabwe’s new ball attack before getting toppled by Faraz Akram in the 13th over of the match.

Shafique went on to tally his sixth ODI half-century, and shared another 50-plus stand with number three batter Kamran Ghulam. Shortly after the 25-year-old was caught plumb in front by Sikandar Raza for a 68-ball 50, the ‘Men in Green’ reached 113-2 at the halfway stage of the innings.

ZIM vs PAK Highlights: Kamran Ghulam’s Maiden Ton Takes PAK Past 300

Kamran Ghulam at number three raged on to make a career-best score of 103 runs from 99 balls. Glittering his maiden ODI century with 10 boundaries and four sixes, Ghulam shared 89 runs with captain Mohammad Rizwan (37 off 47) and another 31 with Agha Salman (30 off 26). In pursuit of quick runs, Ghulam and Salman were both dismissed by Richard Ngarava during the slog overs of the innings.

Rizwan himself became Sikandar Raza’s second wicket of the day before a whirlwind 16-ball 29* from Tayyab Tahir blazed Pakistan to 303-6 from 50 overs.

ZIM vs PAK Highlights: Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed Deliver Early Breakthroughs

Sharing the new ball with Agha Salman, part-time off spinner Saim Ayub got the early wickets of Zimbabwe opener Joylord Gumbie and number three Dion Myers within the first three overs of the run-chase. Abrar Ahmed, who picked up four wickets on his ODI debut a couple of days ago, backed up Ayub’s early blitz with the prized-scalp of well-set Zimbabwe opener Tadiwanashe Marumani (24 off 30).

Hosts captain Craig Ervine (51 off 63) and senior man Sean Williams (24 off 29) salvaged some top-order recovery with a 41-run partnership for the fourth wicket, before both well-set batters were knocked over by Aamer Jamal and Haris Rauf as Zimbabwe crashed to 123-5 in 26 overs.

ZIM vs PAK Highlights: Zimbabwe Skittle For 204 As PAK Clinch Series 2-1

Aamer Jamal also bagged the key wicket of Sikandar Raza in the very next over after snaring the wicket of half-centurion Craig Ervine at 130-6. Abrar Ahmed broke Brian Bennett’s late 40-run resistance with Clive Madande by toppling the former to seize figures of 2-45 from nine overs.

Centurion Kamran Ghulam added a wicket to his tally in the form of Faraz Akram while Faisal Akram (1-37) and Haris Rauf (2-34) mopped up the tail to envelop Zimbabwe for just 204 in 40.1 overs. Pakistan sealed the match by 99 runs and claimed the three-match series by a 2-1 margin.