|
|
Zimbabwe level series as Johnson slams maiden century
by Shahid A.Hashmi for AFP
22 November 1998
SHEIKHUPURA, Pakistan, Nov 22 (AFP) - A maiden century by Neil Johnson
steered Zimbabwe to a comfortable six-wicket win over Pakistan in the second
one-day international cricket match here Sunday.
The tourists levelled the series 1-1 after restricting Pakistan to 211
in their 50 overs. Johnson, 28, made 103 as Zimbabwe cruised home with 9.2 overs
to spare.
He and fellow opener Grant Flower set the foundation for victory by putting
on 101 off 114 balls. Johnson, who became a Zimbabwe citizen only last month after playing
most of his cricket in South Africa, continued his fine form following his 74 in the
first one-dayer.
Johnson, who also took two wickets, fell with just three runs required
for victory. His innings came off 122 balls, including 13 boundaries.
``It is a very good win for us, one we were looking for to keep the interest
alive in the series,'' Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell said.
``I give full credit to the opening stand and to our bowlers.'' Johnson's was the first ton by a Zimbabwean against Pakistan. The
previous highest was 91 by Grant Flower at Quetta in 1996-97. Campbell had put Pakistan in after winning the toss.
Pakistan's frontline batting, however, failed to take advantage of a batting
wicket, with Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar falling before reaching double
figure. Pinch-hitter Shahid Afridi hit four boundaries in his 30-ball 26
before being bowled by Heath Streak.
Inzamam (34) and Yousuf Yohanna (24) added 44 runs for the fourth wicket
before off-spinner Andrew Whittall removed both in his first spell. The home
side were 89 for four after 25 overs, then 116 for seven. Teenager Hasan Raza, however, helped mount a recovery with a top score
of 46. Raza, brought in for the unfit Ijaz Ahmed, shared late-order partnerships of
37 with Wasim Akram for the eighth wicket and a record 57 off 54 balls with
Saqlain Mushtaq for the ninth to help Pakistan gain some respectability.
Raza, the youngest player to appear in a one-dayer at 14 years 233 day
against Zimbabwe two years ago, faced 70 balls. Wasim hit two fours and a six off leg spinner Paul Strang as he made
19 off 23 balls. Saqlain, meanwhile, made 29 off 27 balls, hitting fours fours
and a six.
Streak finished with three for 40 with Whittal two for 23. The third and
final one-dayer will be played in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
Copyright 1998-2001 AFP. All rights reserved. All information displayed on
this page (dispatches, photographs, logos), with the exception of CricInfo
logos and trademarks, are protected by intellectual property rights owned
by Agence France Presse. As a consequence you may not copy, reproduce,
modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any
of the contents of this section without prior written consent of
Agence-France-Presse.
|
|
|