Kamran Ghulam's First ODI Century Secures Pakistan's Series Victory Over Zimbabwe

Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Aamer Jamal, and Saim Ayub each took four wickets as Pakistan bowled Zimbabwe out for 204, winning the third ODI by 99 runs and sealing the series. Saim Ayub was selected Player of the Series for his overall efforts. 

Pakistan was too good for Zimbabwe in the end, winning the three-match ODI series 2-1 with a superb 99-run triumph in Bulawayo on Thursday, November 28. Kamran Ghulam's maiden ODI ton set up Pakistan's victory, as the visitors posted a total of over 300 before Zimbabwe, despite some promising starts, struggled to chase it down and fell far short. This was Pakistan's second consecutive ODI series triumph away from home, following their victory over Australia, and they are comfortably positioned for the Champions Trophy next year. 

Pakistan's opening batsmen, Saim Ayub, and Abdullah Shafique, got off to a solid start after opting to bat first. The duo put on a 58-run partnership before Faraz Akram dismissed in-form Ayub for attacking 31. Shafique completed his fifty and was joined by Kamran Ghulam at the opposite end, who, like Ayub, wanted to assault the opponents.

 The duo also established a fifty-run partnership, and just when it appeared that Pakistan would steamroll Zimbabwe, another partnership was broken just after fifty when Sikandar Raza scored. The entering batsmen, captain Mohammad Rizwan and his deputy Salman Agha, all received starts, but fortunately for Pakistan, Ghulam held one end and continued to form partnerships. The 89-run stand between Rizwan and Ghulam was perhaps the deciding factor because it came at such a rapid pace, and Zimbabwe realized they were being batted out of the game. 

Ghulam scored his first hundred but collapsed quickly after. Agha and Tayyab Tahir's cameos helped Pakistan reach 303/6, which after a cautious start was a very excellent score on that track. 

Zimbabwe's middle-order hitters received starts but failed to convert. However, the hosts lacked in a few areas, which cost them dearly. Zimbabwe lost two wickets easily, with Ayub dismissing Dion Myers and Joylord Gumbie by the third-over mark. Not a single hitter scored more than Ghulam did for Pakistan.

Pakistan's bowling foursome of Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Aamer Jamal, and Ayub each took four wickets as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 204. Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe's captain, was the only player to hit 50 as the team suffered consecutive losses to finish second in the three-match ODI series. Both sides' attention will now go to the T20Is, which begin on Sunday, December 1 with three matches.