Richard Ngarava’s unexpected brilliance with the bat, alongside Sikandar Raza’s impressive all-round shift, propelled Zimbabwe to a thrilling 80-run victory over Pakistan via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the first one-day international match at Queens Sports Club on Sunday.
Ngarava, known primarily for his bowling, delivered a career-best knock of 48 as he played a crucial role in lifting the hosts to a competitive total after a middle-order collapse.
Zimbabwe, put in to bat, began solidly with openers Joylord Gumbie (15) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (29) building a 40-run partnership in the first six overs.
However, the innings stumbled after Gumbie’s unfortunate run-out, followed by Agha Salman’s quick dismissals of Craig Ervine (6) and Sean Williams (23).
Struggling at 125 for seven, Zimbabwe seemed destined for a modest total.
Enter Ngarava.
His bold counterattack, supported by Raza’s composed 39 off 56 balls, turned the game around.
The duo’s vital 62-run stand for the eighth wicket shifted momentum.
After Raza was caught at the midwicket boundary, Ngarava continued his onslaught, smashing five boundaries and a six in his 52-ball innings, guiding Zimbabwe past the 200-mark before they were bowled out for 205 in 40.2 overs.
Salman and Faisal Akram took three wickets each for Pakistan.
In response, Pakistan’s chase got off to a disastrous start.
Blessing Muzarabani struck early, removing Abdullah Shafique (1) and Saim Ayub (11), reducing the visitors to 17 for two within five overs.
Zimbabwe’s spinners, Williams and Raza, then dismantled the middle order, leaving Pakistan reeling at 49 for five by the 16th over.
Williams further tightened the grip by bowling Irfan Khan in the 19th over, making it 58 for six.
In the meantime dark clouds were gathering, and rain eventually halted play in the 21st over with Pakistan stranded at 60 for six.
As the match could not resume, Zimbabwe, ahead on the DLS calculations, secured a famous victory.
Raza, Williams and Muzarabani finished with two wickets apiece.
The teams will clash again at the same venue on Tuesday, with Zimbabwe aiming to clinch the three-match series.
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