Pakistan versus Zimbabwe ODI Series, 2024

3rd ODI

Kamran Ghulam’s maiden ton has powered Pakistan team to a series victory

Pakistan scored 303/6 in 50 overs, where as Zimbabwe scored 204 in 40.1 overs.

So, finally Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 99 runs.

After the surprising loss in the opening ODI, Pakistan bounced back strongly in the second game and followed it up with another dominant performance to seal the series 2-1.

Kamran Ghulam’s 103 off 99 balls, supported by solid contributions from the rest of the batters, guided Pakistan to a total of 303/6 in the third ODI in Bulawayo on Thursday (November 28).

In response, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 204 in 40.1 overs, with Pakistan delivering a collective bowling performance.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan enjoyed a strong start with a 58-run opening partnership.

After a cautious beginning in the first two overs, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique struck regular boundaries during the first powerplay, including a couple of sixes in the opening 10 overs.

However, Ayub was dismissed unexpectedly, caught at deep square leg by Faraz Akram.

Shafique was joined by Ghulam, and the pair put together a 50-run stand, though the strike rate remained under 80.

Shafique reached a 66-ball half-century before being trapped leg before wicket by Sikandar Raza.

Ghulam and Mohammad Rizwan then added 89 runs off 92 balls, with Ghulam reaching his fifty off 59 balls.

The pair increased the scoring rate, and from 132/2 after 30 overs, Pakistan moved to 201 after 40 overs.

Rizwan was dismissed by Raza after miscuing a shot to long-on.

Ghulam continued to impress, reaching his maiden ODI century before falling to Richard Ngarava.

Despite his dismissal, Pakistan’s batters remained aggressive in the final 10 overs, scoring 102 runs.

Contributions from Salman Agha (30 off 26) and Tayyab Tahir (29* off 16) helped Pakistan amass 69 runs in the last five overs, with 23 of those coming in the 46th over bowled by Akram.

Zimbabwe’s chase faltered early as Ayub claimed the wickets of Joylord Gumbie and Dion Myers in the third over.

Gumbie failed to keep the pull shot down, while Myers was dismissed for a sweep shot to deep backward square.

Craig Ervine and Tadiwanashe Marumani tried to steady the ship with a brisk 39-run partnership, but Marumani was dismissed lbw to an early pull shot off Abrar Ahmed.

Ervine and Sean Williams then sought to build another partnership, but their 41-run stand ended when Williams chopped a delivery from Haris Rauf onto the stumps, leaving Zimbabwe at 90/4 in the 18th over.

With Zimbabwe’s hopes resting on Ervine and Raza, both batters fell in quick succession after a 33-run stand, courtesy of Aamer Jamal, leaving Zimbabwe at 130/6 in the 28th over.

Brian Bennett attempted a counter-attack, striking a quick-fire 37 before becoming Abrar’s second wicket.

Akram followed soon after, and although Zimbabwe’s lower order showed some resilience, with Ngarava and Clive Madande adding some resistance, Pakistan eventually wrapped up the innings in the 41st over.