Captain Malik helps Pakistan to ODI win over Zimbabwe
Pakistan have beaten Zimbabwe by 104 runs in Karachi in the first of five One Day Internationals. Captain Shoaib Malik hit a quickfire 63 to take his career total ODI runs past the 4,000 mark and he was assisted by half centuries from four other players, including debutant Nasir Jamshed, as the hosts made 347-5.
Batting first, Pakistan had recovered from the loss of opener Salman Butt who was run out in farcical circumstances after Jamshed turned down a quick single. Established stars Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf both struck fluent and rapid half centuries, 79 and 72 runs respectively, before Malik reached his milestone 4,000th run.
Pakistan finished proceedings with Misbah-ul-Haq's cameo of 56 from 38 balls as the hosts powered home with 80 runs off the last ten overs.
Zimbabwe responded by taking the game to the Pakistani bowling attack, but lacked the cutting edge to make a real fight of it. Openner Vusimuzi Sibanda hit 59 from 54 balls and middle order batsmen Chamunorwa Justice Chibhabha and Sean Williams, both hitting 52 runs, also offered some resistance.
But the required run rate continued to rise and Zimbabwe never seriously challenged the total as they finished on 243-7.
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