Harare, Zimbabwe, Sept 11: Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat led Pakistan to 228 runs for no wickets in a domineering opening partnership that secured a 10-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second one-day international in Harare on Sunday.
Hafeez hit an unbeaten 139 while Farhat stroked 75 not out as Pakistan reached the 226-run winning target set by Zimbabwe with almost eight overs to spare and took a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The 30-year-old allrounder Hafeez was the more aggressive of the two batsmen as he cracked 13 boundaries and a six from 147 balls, while Farhat got six fours in his 106-ball innings.
Earlier, Hamilton Masakadza (68) and Brendan Taylor (50) hit half-centuries as Zimbabwe totaled 225-6.
Pakistan's opening bowler Sohail Tanvir bowled with good accuracy and pace to claim 2-33 as Zimbabwe struggled for runs on a tricky wicket for batting.
“We haven't come close to winning the game today but Wednesday (in the final match) is another day,” said Zimbabwe coach Alan Butcher.
“Every game that we play is important for us to get credibility on the international scene,” he added. “I don't think we coped well earlier on with the new ball. I think we are trying to hit the ball very hard instead of just playing it simple.”
Zimbabwe were put in after captain Brendan Taylor chose to bat after winning the toss. He subsequently tried to reverse the decision, but his request was turned down by the officials.
“The captain made the wrong call,” Butcher said. “We wanted to bowl and he admitted that in front of everyone and that takes a big man to admit. It happens and we have to live with it, we have to move on.”
Masakadza faced 118 balls and hit five boundaries and a six, while Taylor was more cautious, registering two boundaries from 76 balls as they shared a 104-run stand for the third wicket.
Tanvir was the pick of Pakistan's attack, removing opener Chamu Chibhabha for 9 and Tatenda Taibu for 26 just as the latter was getting settled.
Taylor was out when his attempted uppercut off Junaid Khan's short and wide delivery was caught at third man by replacement fielder Asad Shafiq in the 38th over to leave Zimbabwe on 3-140.
Masakadza then added 36 runs for the fourth wicket with Taibu before a mix-up between the two led to Masakadza being run out by Misbah-ul-Haq.
After Taibu was clean-bowled by Tanvir and Malcolm Waller was run out by Mohammad Hafeez's throw to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal for 12, Elton Chigumbura's late onslaught of 17 runs from 10 balls gave Zimbabwe a reasonable total to defend.
Zimbabwe lost the first one-day international by five runs at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday. Pakistan also won a one-off test between the sides, with a seven-wicket victory also in Bulawayo. AP
