Iqbal steers Pakistan to victory

Faisal Iqbal struck a century to steer Pakistan to a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international on Saturday.

The opener scored 100 off 97 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes, as Pakistan cruised to 211 for two in reply to Zimbabwe's 210 to win with 14.3 overs to spare.

Pakistan lead the five-match series 4-0.

Kamran Akmal and Iqbal added 53 runs for the first wicket before the former was caught by wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu off the bowling of medium pacer Douglas Hondo for 44 in the eighth over.

Iqbal and Younis Kahn then added 156 for the second wicket in a bustling stand that took Pakistan to within two runs of victory.

It ended when Younis was run out for 56 by Brian Murphy in the covers as the batsmen attempted a tight single that would have brought Iqbal his century.

The Zimbabweans did themselves no favours by dropping six catches, including two offered by Iqbal on 35 and 37.

Earlier, Grant Flower rescued a Zimbabwean innings that was teetering at 41 for six with an undefeated 105 off 146 balls including 11 fours.

The home side lost their first wicket in the third over when Mark Vermeulen was trapped in front for nine by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Twelve balls later the score was 12 for four, with Alistair Campbell and Andy Flower dismissed without scoring by consecutive deliveries from fast bowler Mohammad Sami.

Campbell was caught in the gully by Misbah-ul-Haq, while Flower fell to a catch by Inzamam-ul-Haq. Dion Ebrahim chopped a ball from Shoaib on to his stumps to be bowled for two.

Grant Flower and Sean Ervine stopped the rot until the 11th over, when Ervine, on five, edged a ball from fast bowler Mohammad Zahid to Younis at second slip.

Zimbabwe slipped to 41 for six when wicketkeeper Akmal took a fine one-handed head high catch to dismiss Taibu for a duck and earn Sami his third wicket.

Grant Flower and Travis Friend steadied Zimbabwe's ship with a seventh-wicket stand of 82 that was ended in the 29th over when Friend missed a straight delivery from leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and was bowled through the gate for 48, the only other double figure score in the innings.

Hondo helped Flower add 46 for the last wicket, while Sami was the pick of the bowlers with figures of four for 41.

Mail Cricket Editor