Lahore, Pakistan (AP): Shoaib Malik made an impressive return to limited-overs cricket with a blistering century on Tuesday, propelling Pakistan to 375-3 in the first one-day international against Zimbabwe.
Malik, who had been dropped in ODIs since the 2013 Champions Trophy in England, made 112 off 76 balls with 12 fours and two sixes before he was caught off the last ball of the innings.
Haris Sohail also prospered against some wayward bowling with 89 off 66 balls featuring six fours and two sixes and shared 201 runs with Malik to give Pakistan a commanding total to defend in the first of three ODIs.
Mohammad Hafeez made 86 and provided a solid first-wicket stand of 170 runs with captain Azhar Ali, who scored 79, after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Offspinner Prosper Utseya (2-63) removed both openers off successive deliveries before Malik took charge, scoring his first ODI century the 2009 Champions Trophy against India at Centurion.
Ali and Hafeez started off cautiously before scoring at will as Zimbabwe bowlers toiled in temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius before a crowd of 20,000 at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Hafeez hit eight fours and two of his four sixes came off successive deliveries when he lofted left-arm spinner Sean Williams over his head before Utseya struck.
Ali top-edged a slog sweep and holed out in the deep before the offspinner had clean bowled Hafeez round his legs.
Malik and Sohail, who both play for Sialkot in the domestic circuit, then combined in Pakistan's best third-wicket stand against Zimbabwe as they hammered the opposition for 112 runs in the last 10 overs.
Former captains Javed Miandad and Aamir Sohail held the previous record when they made 145 at Hobart during the 1992 World Cup.
Malik raised his eighth ODI century off 70 balls in the penultimate over when he nudged Christopher Mpofu for two at midwicket.
Hamilton Masakadza had Malik dropped at point in the last over before making amends off the last ball of the innings at the same position.
Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe 2-0 in the Twenty20 series. which marked the return of international cricket in Pakistan after six years since an attack on the Sri Lanka team in 2009.
