Washout hands Pak 2-0 series win over Zim

Pakistan won the Oneday International series against Zimbabwe 2-0 after the final game on Sunday had to be abandoned due to heavy rain.

Chasing a revised target of 281 after Pakistan made 296/9, Zimbabwe were 68/0 after the innings was reduced to 46 overs, when weather halted play.

Earlier, opener Mohammad Hafeez and debutant Babar Azam hit dashing half centuries.

Hafeez scored a run-a-ball 80 with eight fours and a six while Babar notched a 60-ball 54 after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat on another flat Gaddafi Stadium pitch.

Hafeez gave Pakistan a sound start of 115 with skipper Azhar Ali, who made 46, before Babar and Anwer (38 not out) gave the score a significant boost in the final overs with sublime batting.

Pakistan had won the first game by 41 runs and the second by six wickets.

Zimbabwe is the first Test play- ing nation to tour Pakistan since a terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus six years ago. Security was enhanced around the stadium and team hotel after Friday night’s blast which police said was a cylinder explosion while federal information minister Pervez Rasheed described it as a failed suicide attack which killed two people.

Nevertheless Zimbabwe decided to continue with the tour.

Ali was run out in the 20th over as he failed to complete a single. He hit four boundaries and a six during his 59-ball knock. Raza then trapped Hafeez with a sharp delivery before dismissing Asad Shafiq (16) and Sarfraz Ahmed (25) to improve on his 2-25 against Afghanistan at Bulawayo last year.

In between Shoaib Malik was run out for three. Babar kept his cool, reaching his maiden fifty off 54 balls before being bowled but he and Anwar helped Pakistan add 54 in the last five overs. BRIEF SCORES: Pakistan 296/9 (Hafeez 80, Babar 54, Raza 3-59) v Zimbabwe 68/0