Omair bin Yousuf’s 153-run knock in vain as Zimbabwe Select win by seven wickets

Centuries from Craig Ervine and Joylord Gumbie helped Zimbabwe Select thrash Pakistan Shaheens by seven wickets in the fourth one-day on Tuesday in Harare.

While chasing a target of 296 runs, Pakistan Shaheens drew first blood early as opening batter Tadiwanashe Maruman was dismissed for just four runs by Shahnawaz Dahani.

After his dismissal, Joylord Gumbie and Craig Ervine took charge and formed a match-winning partnership of 277 runs. As the match was about to end, Aamir Jamal came into the attack and dismissed Ervine after his brilliant innings of 161 runs from 144 deliveries, including 19 fours and three sixes. 

Later on, Dahani also dismissed Joylord, who scored 111 from 124 deliveries, including ten boundaries.

Shaheens’ bowlers grabbed couple of wickets at the end, but it was too late for them to win the game.

The 24-year-old Dahani was quite expensive in his spell, as he gave away 60 runs and claimed two wickets. Jamal also took the big wicket of the centurion Craig Ervine in his spell and conceded 47 runs.

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Omair Yousuf played an impressive innings of 153 runs, helping Pakistan Shaheens set a formidable target of 296 runs against Zimbabwe Select. 

With a magnificent display of batting, Omair hit 14 fours and four sixes, taking control of the game. He faced 126 balls and remained at the crease for approximately 41 overs. 

Together with Kamran Ghulam, who scored 55 runs off 79 balls, the right-hand batsman built a strong partnership of 144 runs in the middle of the innings. 

Zimbabwe Select chose to bowl first and made their first breakthrough in the 8th over when fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Mohammad Hurraira for 17 runs. 

The following two wickets fell quickly, with Haseebullah Khan (22) and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (0) departing within four balls between the 13th and 14th overs. 

However, Omair and Kamran steered Pakistan Shaheens’ innings from 55/3 to 194/3 in the next 25 overs. Unfortunately, the lower-order batsmen struggled, and apart from Qasim Akram, who scored a modest 16 runs, none of them managed to reach double figures. 

Brad Evan was the standout bowler for Zimbabwe Select, taking five wickets for 62 runs in his 10 overs, while Wellington Masakadza claimed two wickets.