Bilal Asif five-for powers Pakistan to victory

Harare: Off-spinner Bilal Asif outlined his potential value to Pakistan ahead of upcoming games against England as his five-wicket haul clinched the third and decisive one-day international against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Monday. Playing in just his second ODI, Asif decimated the Zimbabwe line-up with figures of 5 for 25 as the hosts were bowled out for 161, then scored 38 as Pakistan chased their target in 34 overs to win by seven wickets. The 30-year-old was a late addition to Pakistan’s ODI squad at the behest of Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who felt the offspinner could come in handy against England’s slew of left-handers in a three-match series that starts on October 13.

Zimbabwe had made an impressive start with openers Chamu Chibhabha and Richmond Mutumbami putting on 89 for the first wicket at a steady pace. But Asif broke the stand dismissing Chibhabha for 48.

SCOREBOARD
Zimbabwe: C. Chibhabha c & b Bilal 48, R. Mutumbami c Sarfraz b Irfan 67, B. Chari lbw b Imad 4, S. Williams c& b Bilal 5, E. Chigumbura b Bilal 0, S. Raza b Bilal 2, T. Mutombodzi b Bilal 4, M. Waller c Hafeez b Imad 8, L. Jongwe (not out) 16, T. Panyangara lbw b Imad 0, J. Nyumbu c Rizwan b Shoaib 4. Extras (3w) 3. Total (in 38.5 overs) 161.
FoW: 1-89, 2-100, 3-111, 4-111, 5-121, 6-127, 7-133, 8-144, 9-144.
Bowling: Irfan 8-0-43-1, Yamin 6-0-29-0, Riaz 6-0-24-0, Imad 8-1-36-3, Bilal 10-1-25-5, Shoaib 0.5-0-4-1.
Pakistan: A. Shehzad st Chari b Williams 32, B. Asif c Mutombodzi b Nyumbu 38, M. Hafeez c Chari b Panyangara 13, A. Shafiq (not out) 38, S. Malik (not out) 34. Extras (lb2, w5) 7. Total (for three wickets in 34 overs) 162.
FoW: 1-58, 2-74, 3-104.
Bowling: Panyangara 7-0-22-1, Jongwe 7-0-42-0, Williams 10-1-29-1, Nyumbu 4-0-33-1, Mutombodzi 3-0-21-0, Waller 2-0-11-0, Raza 1-0-2-0.