Zimbabwe suffer 14th one-day defeat in a row

Zimbabwe slumped to their 14th consecutive one-day international defeat when they were trounced by 106 runs by Pakistan in the Sharjah Champions Trophy on Sunday.

Pakistan, spurred by fluent half-centuries from Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar, made 279 for six in their 50 overs and bowled out Zimbabwe for 173 in 39.1 overs.

The African side lost the opening game of the tournament on Friday by 63 runs to Sri Lanka, who made it two wins out of two when they swept to a seven-wicket success over the Pakistanis on Saturday.

Zimbabwe suffered two early setbacks when they began their run chase, with Pakistan captain Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram striking in successive overs to reduce them to five for two by the third over.

Andy Flower (51) and Stuart Carlise (43) led a recovery with a third wicket stand of 79 but once they were parted the rest of the innings crumbled.

Zimbabwe's last seven wickets tumbled for 61, with spinners Shahid Afridi (2-21) and Shoaib Malik (3-42) doing most of the damage.

Earlier, Afridi and Anwar propelled Pakistan to the highest total so far in the $250,000 tournament.

Afridi hit 67 off 81 balls, including five sixes and three fours, before being bowled by Heath Streak, while Anwar made 64 off 80 balls, with six fours and a six, before being bowled by Grant Flower.

The pair shared a second wicket stand of 91, and Anwar also put on 52 with Yousuf Youhana (26).

There was a late flourish led by Abdur Razzaq, who smashed 45 off 36 balls, including two fours and two sixes, before he was run out by a direct throw from Zimbabwe captain Brian Murphy.

Mail Cricket Editor