Pakistan (279 for 6; Shahid Afridi 67, Saeed Anwar 64) beat Zimbabwe (173; A Flower 51, Shoaib Malik 3-42) by 106 runs
Scorecard

42 overs Zimbabwe crashed to their 14th consecutive defeat, and their second of this tournament, when they lost by a whopping 106 runs to Pakistan, who thus redeemed themselves after Saturday's loss to Sri Lanka, and claimed a bonus point to boot. Zimbabwe need to win their remaining two matches to have any chance of qualifying for the final. On present form, that looks almost impossible.

Chasing 280 for an unlikely victory, Zimbabwe recovered from two early setbacks, thanks to a 79-run third-wicket stand between Andy Flower and Stuart Carlisle. Carlisle was especially impressive with his fluent strokes on either side of the wicket - the pick a straight-drive off Waqar Younis and a confident pull off Shoaib Akhtar. Andy Flower too got into his stride with a lovely square-cut off Shoaib Akhtar.

The partnership was broken by a run-out. Carlisle played to midwicket, both batsmen ran and then hesitated in mid-pitch. Taufeeq Umar calmly collected the ball and threw in to the bowler, Abdur Razzaq, and Carlisle was not even in the frame.

Dion Ebraham followed soon, for 12. He was unlucky to be given out caught behind, attempting to drive offspinner Shoaib Malik. The slide gathered momentum when four batsmen, including Andy Flower, fell in a 11-ball spell. After a typically workmanlike half-century, Flower completely misread the line of a straight ball from Malik, went for an off-drive, and was bowled through the gate.

Trevor Gripper, in his first one-day international, replaced Flower, but was soon back in the hutch himself, courtesy of some smart thinking by Rashid Latif, the wicketkeeper. Gripper attempted a sweep off Shahid Afridi, and the ball ricocheted off his pad and rolled innocuously down the wicket. Latif moved down the pitch and flicked the ball back towards the stumps, and caught Gripper out of his crease. Sean Ervine departed first ball, caught behind off a faster one from Afridi. And captain Brian Murphy's forgettable performance continued, as he lasted only three deliveries, before being trapped in front by Malik.

Travis Friend prolonged the inevitable with an entertaining 17 before Waqar decided it was time to end the fun. Shoaib Akhtar was recalled, and he soon obliged with a rattling yorker, leaving Heath Streak undefeated on 27.

Earlier, Pakistan's batsmen set up the win, notching up 279 - 103 runs more than they managed against Sri Lanka yesterday.

If yesterday's batting performance was characterised by reckless slogging, then today's was marked by a definite attempt by all the batsmen to play themselves in before attempting heroics. No-one epitomised this better than Afridi. On a slowish track where the ball didn't come on to the bat, Afridi struggled to find his timing. But he hung on and, guided by senior pro Saeed Anwar, made a hardworking 67.

Pakistan began well and raced to 40 off eight overs. But the introduction of medium-pacer Gary Brent put the brakes on the run rate, and gave Zimbabwe the breakthrough. He slipped one down the leg side, Taufeeq (18) missed an attempted flick, and before he knew what had happened Andy Flower had whipped off the bails with Taufeeq's back foot well outside the crease.

Anwar took time to gauge the pace of the track, but showed his class with two exquisite boundaries off Friend - a caressed four backward of point, and a wristy flick past square leg. Meanwhile Afridi grew in confidence and played some extravagant shots. A six over long-off off Murphy and a sweep off Ervine over midwicket were the pick of them.

The two added 91 in 18 overs before Afridi lost his head - and his middle stump - when he moved towards leg and attempted a wild slog off Streak. He had made 67 off 81 balls, including five sixes and only three fours.

Anwar then progressed smoothly to 64, when a lapse of concentration did him in. He had received medical attention for a strained left wrist, and immediately after the resumption he went for a wild swipe off the gentle left-arm spin of Grant Flower, only to find his woodwork disturbed. It was a poor end to an elegant innings. Yousuf Youhana departed in the next over, chipping offspinner Doug Marillier to Henry Olonga, the substitute, at long-off.

However, Razzaq provided the impetus in the final overs to take Pakistan to a formidable total. He was especially severe on Ervine, taking 23 off two overs, including two huge sixes over midwicket. Wasim Akram joined the party and deposited Friend over long-on in the last over.

S Rajesh is a sub-editor with Wisden.com India.

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