Tanveer, Jamshed star as Pak beat Zimbabwe

HYDERABAD, Pakistan:

Sohail Tanveer took four wickets and Nasir Jamshed made a half-century as Pakistan subdued some spirited Zimbabwe resistance to take a firm grip on the one-day series on Thurday.

Left-arm paceman Tanveer grabbed a career-best 4-34 to restrict the tourists to 238-8 in their 50 overs before Jamshed struck a strokeful 64-ball 74 to guide Pakistan home with 3.4 overs to spare.

Earlier Zimbabwe's Hamilton Masakadza hit a career-best 87 and Tatenda Taibu 81 before the tourists spurned a good chance to post a big total by losing five wickets for nine runs in the final 10 overs.

They also dropped half-a-dozen chances to allow Pakistan to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series after their emphatic 104-run win in Karachi.

"It was a close game and had we batted more responsibly we would have posted a better total. Then we dropped catches which proved crucial," said Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said he was happy with team's consistency.

"We are playing with a good rhythm and to restrict Zimbabwe to under 240 was good," said Malik.

The 18-year-old Jamshed, who hit a 48-ball 61 in his debut on Monday, enthralled the packed 7,500 crowd who were witnessing the first international at Niaz Stadium since India played here in 1997.

The left-hander completed his second half-century off just 42 deliveries with 11 boundaries before he ran himself out in the 21st over.

Jamshed, dropped on six and 74, hit 14 boundaries and added 95 runs for the second wicket with Younis Khan (35).

Pakistan were in trouble when they lost Jamshed, Younis Khan and captain Shoaib Malik (four) in the space of 10 runs. Younis failed to regain his ground after he was sent back, while Malik was stumped off left-arm spinner Ray Price.

At 139-4, Mohammad Yousuf (38 not out) and Misbah-ul Haq (20) steadied the run-chase with an uncharacteristically slow 39-run stand for the fifth wicket. It was Misbah's wicket which again raised Zimbabwe's slim chances of causing an upset.

With 41 needed off the last nine overs, Chamu Chibhabha dropped Yousuf off Masakadza to end tourists' hopes of an unlikely win as Shahid Afridi (43) hit four boundaries and two sixes off just 27 balls to seal the win.

Earlier the 23-year-old Tanveer dismissed opener Vusi Sibanda (nine) caught behind in his third over and then had Chibhabha (nought) caught at slip in his fourth over to derail the tourists' innings.

Masakadza and Taibu repaired the early damage during a sedate 137-run stand for the third wicket. Masakadza was more aggressive, hitting 10 boundaries during his 103-ball knock.

His previous best of 80 was achieved against the West Indies at Bulawayo last year.

Taibu hit three fours in his defiant 111-ball knock. The 24-year-old former Zimbabwe captain added another 55 for the fourth wicket with Brendon Taylor (26) before Zimbabwe slumped from 211-3 to 220-8.

Tanveer, whose previous best figures of 4-53 came against India at Jaipur last year, returned for his second spell to dismiss Taylor and Taibu in his successive overs.

The remaining matches are scheduled for Multan (January 27), Faisalabad (January 30) and Sheikhupura (February 2).