Flowers bloomed in the desert but Pakistan inspired by the
deadly duo Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis saw their team home
by 29 runs to make sure of place in Sunday's Khaleej Times
Trophy final against Sri Lanka here at the Sharjah Stadium
Wednesday night.
While the Flower brothers, Grant and Andy were at the
crease, an upset seemed a likely result. But once demon
bowler Wasim Akram removed Andy (48) and Dion Ebrahim in one
over the match swung towards Pakistan as Zimbabwe suffered
their 16 straight loss in One-day Internationals since June.
The two joined hands at Zimbabwe 13 for two, Waqar removing
Trevor Gripper and Stuart Carlisle in his fourth over.
However, Grant who had a miserable time in the tournament,
survived a torrid opening spell from Wasim and Andy got on
top of Pakistan attack to give their side a fair chance of
victory with their record breaking third wicket stand worth
146.
The prospect of an unpset victory diminished when Grant
Flower was unluckily run out, while backing up at the
bowler's end, for a splendid 91 that earned him Man-of-the-
Match award.
Soon after Abdur Razzaq, hammered all over the place by
Flower brothers, got into the act and dismissed Heath Streak
and Sean Ervine to plunge Zimbabwe to 175 for seven, the
last five wickets falling for just 16 runs.
Zimbabwe hopes were revived once again by Doug Marillier and
Gary Brent but Waqar ended any hopes of African nation of
win by having the former splendidly caught by Azhar Mahmood.
Wasim and Waqar each claimed three wickets, the former
conceding 19 and the latter 40 while Razzaq chipped in with
two for 48.
After Thursday's rest day, Pakistan face Sri Lanka in the
dress rehearsal Friday.
Earlier when Pakistan batted after Waqar won the toss for
third successive time it were the two Pathans, Shahid Afridi
and Younis Khan, who ensured a decent total for the bowlers
to bowl at.
Shahid in his most belligerent mood clobbered six sixes and
two fours in his rapid 58 off only 36 deliveries while
Younis's 59 required 81 balls and managed just two fours in
a restrained knock.
While Shahid needed only 34 balls to reach his fifty - the
fastest so far in the tournament - he was particularly
severe on Gary Brent uptil this match the most economical
Zimbabwe bowler - hitting him two successive sixes the first
two deliveries he faced and then repeated the dose in the
medium pacer's next over.
Pakistan, making four changes from the side that whipped
Zimbabwe in their first encounter giving everyone a chance
before the dress rehearsal and the final against Sri Lanka
Sunday.
In came opener Naved Latif, all-rounder Azhar Mahmood,
Inzamam-ul-Haq back in the side after the two-match ban and
leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in place of a disappointing
Taufiq Umer, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik and Saeed Anwar.
Apart from the Khans, Yousuf Youhana (41) and Azhar Mahmood
(29) made useful contributions while Inzamam struck on the
box by Henry Olonga had to retire but returned with a runner
to make 21.
Zimbabwe, an excellent fielding side, had a poor day.
Inzamam was dropped twice, Shahid was put down at 45 and
Olonga was guilty of not attempting to make an effort to
catch an Azhar Mahmood on-drive.