Kamran Ghulam's Maiden ODI Century Guides Pakistan to Series Win Over Zimbabwe
In an exciting ODI series finale, Pakistan triumphed over Zimbabwe by 99 runs to secure a 2-1 series win. The star of the match was Kamran Ghulam, who marked his maiden one-day international century with a brilliant 103 off 99 balls, leading Pakistan to a solid total of 303/6. This victory followed a tough battle in the series, with Pakistan bouncing back from an 80-run defeat in the first match to clinch the final two games.
Ghulam, who made a name for himself with a Test century against England just a month ago, displayed maturity and skill with the bat, combining crucial partnerships with Abdullah Shafique (50) and captain Mohammad Rizwan (37). His ability to handle spinners was on full display, and his century was brought up with a stunning pull shot through midwicket, signaling his dominance on the pitch. Unfortunately, Ghulam couldn’t extend his innings further, falling to a slower ball from Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava, but his efforts had already set the stage for a strong finish.
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Pakistan’s late surge was powered by Tayyab Tahir (29 off 16 balls) and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha (30 off 26 balls), who helped the team add 69 runs in the final five overs. Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, led by Ngarava and Sikandar Raza, struggled to control the death overs, allowing Pakistan to finish on a commanding total.
On the bowling front, Pakistan’s attack was led by the impressive Aamer Jamal, who made his ODI debut in the series. Jamal’s aggressive short-pitched deliveries troubled Zimbabwe’s batsmen, and he picked up two key wickets—Craig Ervine (51) and Sikandar Raza (16). Jamal’s performance helped break the back of Zimbabwe’s chase, leaving them with no real hope of reaching the target. Despite a brief counter-attack from Brian Bennett, who struck 37 off 27 balls, Zimbabwe’s tail collapsed quickly, and they were bowled out for just 204 in 40.1 overs.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Pakistan, as they have now secured back-to-back ODI series wins, including a historic 2-1 win in Australia earlier this year. The absence of key fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah did not seem to affect Pakistan’s bowling as much as expected, with their second-string pacers stepping up to the challenge in Zimbabwe.
As both teams now shift focus to the upcoming three-match T20 series, Pakistan will look to continue their dominant form while Zimbabwe will aim to bounce back and challenge the visitors. The ODI series win not only boosts Pakistan’s confidence but also serves as a crucial step in their preparations for next year’s Champions Trophy, which will be held on home soil.
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