ICC Cricket World Cup: Half-centuries from Misbah-ul-Haq & Wahab Riaz lead Pakistan to competitive total
Brisbane, March 1 - Pakistan posted a respectable total of 235/7 in 50 overs in their Cricket World Cup Pool B encounter against Zimbabwe at the Gabba here on Sunday.
Considering the slow start Pakistan got after winning the toss, the fact that they managed to score just under 250 was commendable.
The Zimbabwean bowlers were brilliant at the start, taking two early wickets and restricting Pakistan to 14/2 in 10 overs and then 33/2 at the end of the 15th over, the lowest 15-over total of this World Cup.
Openers Nasir Jamshed (1) and Ahmed Shehzad (0) were bowled, leaving the 1992 edition champions tottering at 4/2. Pakistan lost the fifth wicket at 127 in the 34th over.
But a quick knock of 54 not out from 46 balls by Wahab Riaz towards the end of the innings helped Pakistan cross the 200-mark.
Riaz's first One-Day International (ODI) half-century is the highest score by a No.8 batsman in this World Cup.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was instrumental in playing the anchor's innings. He played a typically patient knock of 73 from 121 balls.
Coming to the middle in the fourth over, he remained till the 47th over to compile his 40th half-century.
Though Pakistani batsmen kept getting out at the other end, Misbah was in the middle for three hours and 11 minutes.
Left-hander Haris Sohail (27), wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal (33) and Sohaib Maqsood (21) also played small cameos to take Pakistan past 200.
Zimbabwe bowler Tendai Chatara's figures read 10-2-35-3. He would have bagged a couple more wickets had the fielders not dropped some sitters at the fag end of the innings.
Left-arm spinner Sean Williams (2/48) picked up a couple of wickets while Tawanda Mupariwa (1/36) clinched one. Tinashe Panyangara was economical at the start but was hit for runs in the death overs.
Brief scores: Pakistan 235/7 in 50 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 73, Wahab Riaz 54 not out, Umar Akmal 33; Tendai Chatara 3/35, Sean Williams 2/48) against Zimbabwe