Kamran Ghulam's Brilliant Century Helps Pakistan to Win the Series in Thrilling Third ODI Against Zimbabwe

The 3-match ODI series was tied at 1-1, with Zimbabwe and Pakistan experiencing their fair share of ups and downs throughout the matches. The final ODI took place in Bulawayo, where Zimbabwe aimed for a memorable series victory against Pakistan, who came into the match with momentum from their last game. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first on a slower surface, which was expected to deteriorate as the innings progressed, making it an advantageous toss to win. As for the teams, Pakistan made no changes, while Zimbabwe made two substitutions, bringing in Clive Madanda and Faraz Akram to replace Brandon Mavuta and Trevor Gwandu. After a brief pre-match ceremony, the teams took to the field.

Kamran Ghulam Maiden Ton

Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique opened the batting for Pakistan, facing Sikandar Raza, who aimed to exploit the conditions with the new ball. The start was quiet, with the Pakistani batsmen playing carefully against the spin while targeting runs off the pace bowlers. By the end of the first 10 overs, Pakistan had scored 49 runs. After the powerplay, the opening pair brought up their 50-run partnership before Faraz Akram claimed Zimbabwe's first breakthrough. Kamran Ghulam joined Abdullah Shafique in the middle, and although the scoring slowed momentarily due to Zimbabwe's disciplined bowling, Ghulam soon found gaps and began hitting maximums. Together, they added another 50-run stand, helping Pakistan surpass 100 runs in 20 overs. Shafique reached his half-century before being dismissed by Sikandar Raza.

This wicket brought Pakistan's captain, Mohammed Rizwan, to the crease. The two batters formed a strong partnership, with Kamran Ghulam reaching his maiden ODI fifty, while Rizwan anchored the innings. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's bowlers seemed off their game, lacking a clear plan. The two batters combined for an impressive 89 runs for the fourth wicket before Sikandar Raza struck again, claiming Rizwan's wicket. Kamran Ghulam continued his excellent performance, eventually scoring his maiden ODI century. The dressing room stood to congratulate him on this remarkable achievement. His innings was calculated, showcasing beautiful timing in shot selection. Shortly after reaching his century, he was dismissed by Richard Ngarva, leaving Pakistan at 234/4 after 44 overs and in a strong position to reach 300 runs. They did just that, with contributions from Sakman Agha and Tayyab Tahir, finishing with a score of 303/6. This represented a solid batting effort from Pakistan, marked by consistent partnerships and strategic hitting, resulting in the highest score of the series. Kamran Ghulam's century was the highlight of the innings.

Convincing Bowling from the Visitors

Zimbabwe began their innings chasing a daunting target of 304 runs to secure a historic series win against Pakistan. Openers J. Gumbie and T. Marumani took to the field to face Saim Ayub, who opened the bowling. Ayub made an immediate impact, dismissing Gumbie for just 5 runs. He followed this up with the wicket of Dion Myers for 4 runs. Despite this, Zimbabwe managed to score 50 runs in the powerplay, finishing the first 10 overs at 50/3. Zimbabwe's captain, Craig Ervine, and Sean Williams formed a brief partnership that yielded 41 runs before Williams fell to a stunning delivery from Haris Rauf.

While Zimbabwe had some promising partnerships, they struggled to convert these into significant contributions, leading to increased pressure as the run rate climbed. One positive for Zimbabwe was Sean Williams achieving a fifty before being dismissed by Aamer Jamal. The pitch began to turn and grip, benefitting Pakistan's spinners. In a surprising turn, Kamran Ghulam got a chance to bowl and took his maiden ODI wicket with his left-arm orthodox bowling style. Ultimately, Zimbabwe fell short by 99 runs, ending at 204 all out, while Pakistan secured the series with a 2-1 victory. This match showcased a commendable comeback for Pakistan after their defeat in the rain-affected first ODI. The four Pakistani bowlers claimed two wickets each, contributing to Zimbabwe's all-out performance. Saim Ayub was awarded Man of the Series, while Kamran Ghulam was named Player of the Match for his century and a wicket. Both teams displayed great 50-over cricket as they prepared for the upcoming 3-match T20I series.