Pakistan v Zimbabwe, 1st ODI

GUJRANWALA, Pakistan, Nov 20 (AFP) - Opener Neil Johnson hit a career best 74 and skipper Alistair Campbell made 42 as Zimbabwe scored 237 against Pakistan in the first one-day international here Friday.

Pakistani spinner Saqlain Mushtaq (4-35) and Shahid Afridi (3-45) restricted Zimbabwe from building an even bigger score.

Put in to bat, Johnson, who only gained Zimbabwe citizenship last month, and Grant Flower took advantage of erratic bowling by Pakistani pacemen.

They took Zimbabwe to 75 in the 14th over before Flower edged Shoaib Akhter to keeper Moin Khan after making 26.

Murray Goodwin was on 16 when he failed to respond to Johnson's call and was run out by a smart throw from Wasim Akram. Zimbabwe then lost four wickets for just 45 runs.

Off-spinner Saqlain claimed Craig Evans and Andrew Flower in successive overs. Evans holed out at deep fine leg and was well caught by Yousuf Yohanna after making five. Andrew Flower was trapped leg before for four.

Johnson, who played most of his cricket in South Africa, was beautifully caught by Wasim Akram at short square leg off Sohail.

Johnson's previous highest score of 72 was made against Sri Lanka in Sharjah earlier in the month. He took 99 balls hitting four boundaries.

At 161 Zimbabwe lost Craig Wishart who was snapped up by Moin off Afridi. Wishart made 4.

Campbell added 36 runs with Heath Streak who hit a towering six in his 17.

Streak holed out to Shoaib at deep mid-off in Saqlain's second spell but Campbell continued his repair work till the penultimate over.

Zimbabwe lost Paul Strang for 17 and Campbell in the 49th over.

Pakistan Innings: Sohail leads Pakistan to four-wicket win over Zimbabwe by Shahid A.Hashmi

GUJRANWALA, Pakistan, Nov 20 (AFP) - Captain Aamir Sohail hit 91 to take Pakistan back on victory path as the home team beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first one-day International cricket match here Friday.

Man-of-the-match Sohail returned to form after his poor batting in the one-day series against Australia which Pakistan lost 3-0 early this month.

Yousuf Yohanna sealed victory for Pakistan with an unbeaten 55 after the home team was made to struggle for runs by the tourists before a packed holiday crowd of 16,000.

Zimbabwean opener Neil Johnson hit a career best 74 and captain Alistair Campbell a fighting 42 in the tourists 237 all out.

Pakistan raced to 60 in the 13th over with both Saeed Anwer and Sohail hitting some delectable shots. Saeed went after making 19, bowled by Andrew Whittal as he tried to cut a well pitched ball from the off-spinner.

Five runs later Johnson took a spectacular catch to send one-drop Ejaz Ahmed back who made just 4.

Sohail completed his fifty off 63 balls hitting six fours and a six off Eddo Brandes.

``I am happy that the team is back on winning path. I think we fielded brilliantly to restrict them for 237, especially the catches taken by Wasim Akram,'' a relieved Sohail said.

Inzamam-ul-Haq again fell prey to his complacent running, failing to make the crease when wicketkeeper Andrew Flower threw the ball to non-striker's end. He made only three runs.

Grant Flower struck two telling blows on Pakistan when he dismissed Sohail and Shahid Afridi in successive overs.

Sohail failed to keep down a sweep and was well caught by Paul Strang.

Sohail's 91 came off 105 balls with nine fours and a six. Afridi made only 2.

Afridi's dismissal led to stone-throwing on the ground, halting play for six minutes.

Moin helped Yohanna add 52 valuable runs for the sixth wicket and put Pakistan on the victory track. Moin made 35 off 26 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Earlier Pakistani spinners Saqlain Mushtaq took four wickets for 35 runs and Shahid Afridi grabbed three wickets for 45 to check Zimbabwe's brisk start.

Put into bat by Pakistan, Zimbabwean openers Neil Johnson and Grant Flower took advantage of erratic bowling by the pacemen averaging six an over.

They took Zimbabwe to 75 in the 14th over before Grant Flower edged Shoaib Akhter to keeper Moin Khan after making 26.

Zimbabwe gave way after the 22nd over when Murray Goodwin failed to respond to Johnson's call and was run out by a smart throw from Wasim Akram. Good win made 16.

``We made some 40 to 50 runs short but our bowlers made them work hard,'' Zimbabwe captain Campbell said.

Zimbabwe then lost four more wickets with the addition of 45 runs.

Off-spinner Mushtaq claimed Craig Evans and Andrew Flower in the 25th and 27th overs.

Half way through their innings Zimbabwe were well placed at 132-3.

Evans was well caught by Yohanna after making 5. Andrew Flower was trapped leg before for 4.

Johnson, who played most of his cricket in South Africa before getting citizenship in Zimbabwe last month, was caught by Wasim Akram at short square leg off Sohail.

Johnson's previous highest score of 72 was made against Sri Lanka in Sharjah earlier in the month. He took 99 balls hitting four boundaries.

At 161 Zimbabwe lost Craig Wishart, snapped up by keeper Moin Khan off Afridi. Wishart made 4.

Campbell added 36 runs with Heath Streak who hit a six in his 17.

Streak holed out to Shoaib at deep mid-off in Saqlain's second spell but Campbell continued his repair work till the penultimate over.

Zimbabwe lost Paul Strang for 17 and Campbell in Afridi's 49th over.

The teams meet in the second one-day international at Sheikhupura on Sunday.