Pakistan survive scare

Yousuf: Difficult situation

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Teams

• Pakistan
• Zimbabwe

Players

• Mohammad Yousuf
• Shahid Afridi

• More Players +

  • Nasir Jamshed

Pakistan have scored a five-wicket victory against Zimbabwe in the second one-day international, although Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf were needed to get the home side out of a difficult situation in Hyderabad.

Chasing Zimbabwe's total of 238-8, Pakistan were cruising at 129-1 before Zimbabwe ratcheted up the pressure by taking three wickets for just 10 runs.

Misbah-ul-Haq (20) was the fifth wicket to fall in the mini-collapse, with his departure leaving Pakistan needing a further 61 runs for victory.

But, despite surviving being dropped twice, Afridi demonstrated typical aggression in coming to the rescue, making an unbeaten 43 off 27 balls - including four boundaries and two sixes - as he and Yousuf (38) gained the required runs in just 52 balls.

The groundwork for Pakistan's successful chase had been laid by a 95-run second-wicket stand between opening batsman Nasir Jamshed (74) and Younis Khan (35).

Playing a succession of risky strokes, teenager Jamshed hit a second successive half century - including 14 boundaries - off 64 balls before being run out.

In the field Zimbabwe were largely slick. However, besides Afridi, Jamshed was also dropped twice - both times by Gary Brent - on 6 and 72.

Having made 29, Yousuf also benefited when Chamu Chibhabha dived at full length but could not hold a sharp chance.

"Zimbabwe showed that they could put up a spirited fight -- especially their ground fielding was superb," Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said.

Platform

Earlier, and despite half centuries from Hamilton Masakadza (87) and Tatenda Taibu (81), Zimbabwe could only muster a modest score after winning the toss and opting to bat first.

Masakadza and Taibu provided Zimbabwe with an ideal platform to mount a challenge, but the visitors then lost five wickets for just nine runs - Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir inflicting the most damage with career-best figures of 4-34.

Tanvir dismissed Vusi Sibanda (9) and Chibhabha (0) in his opening spell, before claiming the wickets of Brendon Taylor (26) and Taibu.

The latter's eventual dismissal came after he was dropped twice, the former captain then capitalising with a 137-run third wicket stand off 157 balls with Masakadza.

Afridi (1-37) eventually uprooted the latter's middle stump, but not before the right-hander had played his best-ever one-day innings - his haul coming off 103 balls and including 10 fours.

"It was a close game, we played well, but dropped crucial catches that could have turned the game," said Masakadza.

With the third game to be played in Multan on January 27th, the victory has placed Pakistan 2-0 ahead in the five-match series.

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