The Sheikhupura victory put Zimbabwe on even keel (1-1) in the three-match one-day international series.

Neil Johnson was involved in the three productive stands which brought Zimbabwe at a handshaking distance from victory.

The third and last one-day match will be held at the Rawalpindi Stadium on Nov 24 (Tuesday), which will decide the fate of the series. Pakistan was virtually outplayed by Zimbabwe as the tourists gave an all-round performance to carve out a creditable win.

Pakistan batting failed o come off and the whole side was out for 211 in 50 overs. Hasan Raza top-scored with a sedate knock of 46. Heath Streak emerged as the most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for 40.

Zimbabwe batted with discipline. On the fourth delivery of the 41st over bowled by Saeed Anwar, left-hander Andy Flower flicked him to square-leg to take the winning single by bringing Zimbabwe's total to 212 for four.

Neil Johnson was the fourth Zimbabwe batsman out at the total of 209. He missed the line of Shahid Afridi's leg-break and got his stumps rattled. Neil Johnson completed his century by driving Saeed Anwar through the covers. Neil Johnson slammed his first ton in one-day international and the crowd gave him an standing ovation. The overjoyed opener removed his cap and waved to crowd to all parts of the ground. Johnson hit 13 boundaries off 122 balls in his 170-minute stay at the crease. Johnson drove the ball with ease and grace. He played the role of a sheet-anchor and was rightly adjudged ``Man-of-the-Match''.

Neil Johnson and Grant Flower scored 101 runs for the first-wicket partnership off 114 balls in 88 minutes which laid the foundation of the Zimbabwe innings. At the total of 101, Grant Flower skied a ball from Saqlain Mushtaq and Saeed Anwar held a good catch at square-leg. Neil Johnson and Murray Goodwin added 60 runs for the second wicket stand off 68 balls in 47 minutes to take the Zimbabwe total to 161. Murray Goodwin (30 on 37 balls) fell to a short-pitch delivery from Aamir Sohail when he missed the line of the ball and was bowled. Craig Evans (2) was bowled by Saqlain Mushtaq at the total of 164. Neil Johnson found another good partner in Andy Flower (15 not out on 28 balls) and both added 45 runs off 86 balls to bring Zimbabwe near to victory. Neil Johnson was the fourth man out at 209 and the visitors got past Pakistan score to hit 212 for four in 40.4 overs.

Once again, due to failure of the top-order batting, Pakistan could score a not-so-impressive total of 211 in the stipulated 50 overs after Captain Alistair Campbell won the toss and put the home side in to bat on a docile pitch.

Had young Hasan Raza and Saqlain Mushtaq not put on 57 runs for the ninth wicket partnership off 54 balls and Inzamam-ul-Haq (34), Shahid Afridi (26), Yousuf Yohanna (24) and Wasim Akram (19) not made some useful contributions, Pakistan would have been out for a dismal score. A sporting crowd of around 10,000 was rather disappointed on the Pakistan team which has many experienced and talented cricketers.

When Saqlain Mushtaq, sent in to bat at No 10, joined Hasan Raza at the crease, Pakistan had lost eight precious wickets for a poor score of 153. Hasan Raza batted doggedly but Saqlain, batted brilliantly for his scintillating knock of 29, which was studded with a big mighty six over Bowler Neil Johnson's head and two elegant boundaries.

The partnership was broken by the most successful bowler of Zimbabwe, Heath Streak. Saqlain played with a cross-bat and was clean bowled at the total of 210 in the 50th over. On last delivery of the innings, Hasan Raza's patient knock also came to an end when the paceman had him leg before wicket at the total of 211.

Hasan stayed at the crease for 114 minutes. He faced 70 balls and hit only one boundary. He came to bat at No 6 and was the last man out. Saqlain collected 29 runs off 27 balls in his brisk knock during his 35-minute stay at the crease. The pair batted well to give some respectability to Pakistan's total.

Earlier, Inzamam-ul-Haq (34) and Yousuf Yohanna (24) tried to steady the Pakistan innings with a 44-run fourth wicket stand off 69 deliveries. They started the rearguard action at a total of 36 for three.

Yousuf Yohanna was clean bowled when he looked well set for a big score after making 24 off 41 deliveries. On Andrew Whittall's first delivery, a gentle off-break, Yousuf Yohanna missed the ball and was bowled. Yousuf Yohanna hit two boundaries and stayed at the wicket for 54 runs. The fourth wicket fell at the total of 80 and Pakistan was in trouble.

Situation was aggravated by the dismissal of Inzamam-ul-Haq at the total of 96. Inzamam, when 34, tried to cut a ball from Andrew Whittall and snicked it into the safe hands of wicket-keeper Andy Flower. Inzamam hit four boundaries in his 105-minute stay at the crease . He faced 68 deliveries.

Later, Wasim Akram contributed a quick-fire 19 off 23 balls in 27 minutes. Wasim Akram lifted leg-spinner Paul Strang straight over his head for the first six of the innings.

On the last ball of a Neil Johnson over, all-rounder Wasim Akram tried a big hit but snicked the ball into the hands of Andy Flower. The bowler and fielders made a vociferous appeal and umpire Athar Zaidi raised his finger after one minute.

Pakistan made an inauspicious start as opener Saeed Anwar (2) failed once again. He tried to flick Neil Johnson and was caught by Goodwin at short square-leg. The first wicket fell at the total of eight. One run had been added to the Pakistan total when Captain Aamir Sohail (0) was also out cheaply. He dragged a ball from paceman Eddo Brandes from outside the off-stump and spooned an easy catch to Paul Strang at short mid-wicket.

Pakistan was struggling at nine for two.

Shahid Afridi who contributed 26, was out at the total of 36. Opening the innings, he stayed at the crease for 43 minutes, faced 30 deliveries and hit four boundaries. Shahid Afridi tried to pull Heath Streak, missed the ball and got his stumps uprooted. Heath Streak who bowled very well and was rewarded for his tidy length. He took three wickets for 40. Johnson and Whittal got two wickets, each, conceding 51 and 23 runs, respectively.