All-rounder Sikandar Raza inspired Zimbabwe to a stunning 80-run win on the DLS method in the rain-affected first one-day international against a new-look Pakistan team.
Raza made a crucial 39 runs on Sunday and lifted Zimbabwe from a precarious 7-125 to 205 all out by sharing a 62-run eighth wicket stand with No.9 batter Richard Ngarava, who top-scored with 48.
Under overcast conditions, Raza (2-7) picked up two wickets in one over as Pakistan limped to 6-60 in 21 overs before it rained and denied further play as Zimbabwe took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Pakistan’s second-string new ball bowlers – debutant Aamer Jamal and Mohammad Hasnain – couldn’t make an impact on Zimbabwe’s openers after the visitors had rested frontline pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah for the series.
Pakistan also rested ace batter Babar Azam for the first time in an ODI since 2019 as they experimented ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy.
Tadiwanashe Marumani (29) flicked Jamal to square leg for a six and Joylord Gumbie (15) hit three fours against the seamers as they combined in a better than run-a-ball opening stand of 40 runs against a wayward Pakistan attack.
Gumbie got run out in a mix-up with Marumani in the sixth over before Pakistan came back hard through their spinners.
One of the three Pakistan debutants, left-arm wrist-spinner Faisal Akram took 3-24 and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha claimed 3-42 as Zimbabwe slipped to 7-125 in the 26th over.
Pakistan, reeling from a 3-0 ODI series loss to Australia this week, were struggling at 60-6 after 21 overs when torrential rain, thunder and lightning halted play in the southern city.
After a delay of several hours, the match was called off and the Duckworth Lewis Stern method applied, giving Zimbabwe a convincing victory. The teams meet again on Tuesday and Thursday before playing a three Twenty20 internationals. Pakistan then travel to South Africa for an all-format tour.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 205 in 40.2 overs (R. Ngarava 48, S. Raza 39, T. Marumani 29; F. Akram 3-24, S. Ali Agha 3-42) v Pakistan 60-6 in 21 overs (M. Rizwan 19 not out; B. Muzarabani 2-9, S. Williams 2-12)
Result: Zimbabwe won by 80 runs (DLS method)