Cricinfo







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.


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