Pakistan rips Zimbabwe for Sharjah Cup

SHARJAH: Taufeeq Umar and vice captain Yousuf Youhana put up an unbeaten 144-run partnership yesterday as favourites Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets to win the  2002/03 Cherry Blossom Sharjah Cup one-day tournament.

Pakistan restricted Zimbabwe to 168 all out in 49.1 overs and then responded with 172 for two in 35.2 overs. Pakistan overcame the loss of two early wickets as opener Umar and Youhana played sensibly, anchoring Pakistan’s innings which reached the target with 88 balls to spare. Umar hit 81 runs laced with 10 boundaries, for which he received the Man of the Match award. Youhana scored a fluent 61 in 69 balls with six fours and one six off Raymond Price.

Zimbabwe’s fielding got off to a good start as Heath Streak dismissed opener Mohammed Hafeez for two on the fourth ball of the second over. Hafeez was caught by Craig Wishart. Faisal Iqbal, who came in at the fall of Hafeez’s wicket, was caught by Gavin Rennie in the sixth over bowled by Streak. However, with the arrival of Youhana, Zimbabwe had nothing left with which to dismiss either batsman and used seven bowlers. Pakistan, unbeaten through the four-nation tournament, also earned US$40,000. Zimbabwe got the second-place US$30,000. Sri Lanka’s Kumara Sangakkara was awarded the Man of the Series title for his two unbeaten centuries in the week-long tournament. Kenya was the fourth team.

Earlier when fielding, Pakistani speedster Mohammed Sami and offspinner Shoaib Malik tore through Zimbabwe’s top batting order.  Zimbabwe, electing to bat after winning the toss, were troubled right from the start when Sami got the early breakthrough with opener Craig Wishart’s wicket for a duck with the third ball of the innings. Wishart was caught behind by wicketkeeper and captain Rashid Latif. The Pakistani attack never relented after the first blow and wrapped up the innings in clinical style, grabbing the last five wickets for just 46 runs as Zimbabwe slid from 122 for five to 168 all out. Sami finished with 3/44, while rookie spinner Mohammed Hafeez snapped up 2/14 and Shoaib Malik took 3/29.

The fired-up Sami sent back Gavin Rennie for six — also caught by Latif — and bowled the dangerous Douglas Marillier for 14 to plunge Zimbabwe to 22 for three by the ninth over. Malik then bagged the key wickets of Grant Flower for seven and Sean Erwine for 25.