Pakistan bounced back from a disappointing first ODI with a dominant display in the second, thrashing Zimbabwe by ten wickets to level the series. Saim Ayub stole the spotlight with a scintillating 53-ball century, the fastest ODI hundred by a Pakistani after Shahid Afridi, as Pakistan chased down the modest target of 146 in just 14 overs, with all ten wickets intact.
Zimbabwe, batting first, struggled to find momentum against Pakistan’s spinners. Debutant Abrar Ahmed dazzled with 4 for 33, while Salman Ali Agha chipped in with 3 for 26, restricting Zimbabwe to 145 in 32.3 overs. Despite brief resistance from Dion Myers (33) and Sean Williams (31), Zimbabwe’s batting unit faltered, losing their last five wickets for just 24 runs.
Pakistan’s chase began brightly, with Ayub dictating the pace from the outset. He neutralized Blessing Muzarabani’s early threat and soon found his groove, hitting Trevor Gwandu for a flurry of boundaries to bring up a rapid half-century. Despite some early scares — including a dropped catch and a thick edge — Ayub’s aggression never waned. His onslaught continued, dismantling the Zimbabwean spinners with ease, including Brandon Mavuta, who conceded 47 runs in four overs.
Ayub reached his maiden ODI century with a boundary off Sikandar Raza, marking the moment with a modest celebration. His unbeaten 113, alongside Abdullah Shafique’s steady 32*, ensured Pakistan coasted to victory with a whopping 32 overs to spare.
The match was a masterclass in all-round performance, with Pakistan’s spinners setting the stage and Ayub finishing the job in emphatic fashion. The series now hangs in the balance, with both teams looking ahead to a decisive finale.
