Home
Zimbabwe's 37-year-old batter Craig Ervine missed his maiden double century in List A cricket (One-Day) but ended up breaking a record that was created in 2009. Pakistan Shaheens' bowlers had a dreadful day at the office in the sixth unofficial ODI as Ervine smashed them all around the park and helped the hosts post a massive total of 385/7 at Harare. Ervine’s 195-run knock is the highest individual score by a Zimbabwe batter in the format.
The previous best belonged to former Zimbabwe batter Charles Coventry. Against Bangladesh, Coventry scored 194 not out in August 2009. However, Zimbabwe ended up on the losing side as Tamim Iqbal's 154-run knock helped the visitors win the game by four wickets with 13 balls to spare.
However, Ervine did not end up on the losing side. Pakistan Shaheens were in the game as their middle-order fired but they got all out for 353 and lost the match by 32 runs.
Earlier, Pakistan Shaheens skipper Kamran Ghulam won the toss and opted to field first. The visitors got an early wicket by opener Innocent Kaia and Ervine shared a 186-run partnership for the second wicket. Ervine kept firing from one end and batted for 233 minutes. He smashed as many as 22 fours and six sixes from the 148 balls he faced. Shahnawaz Dahani was the most expensive bowler despite bowling a maiden. He conceded 105 runs from his full quota of 10 overs and remained wicketless.
In the run chase, Shaheens lost early wickets in the first powerplay overs. Rohail Nazir's 87 and skipper Ghulam's 56 kept Shaheens in the game. Mubasir Khan went on a rampage and scored 115 runs from just 77 balls. His knock was laced with six fours and eight sixes. But the required run rate got out of hand and Pakistan got all out with four balls left in the innings.
Zimbabwe have been dominant in the six-unofficial ODI series. They won the series by 4-0. Ervine has been in fine form. He scored 161 in a successful run chase of 296 in the previous game.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Yashasvi Jaiswal included in Team India's squad for WTC final as CSK player's replacement: Report
'I don't know when but he will captain India in white-ball cricket': Michael Vaughan makes bold claim on ace all-rounder
