Records tumble for Pakistan as Fakhar's double ton helps defeat Zimbabwe by 244 runs

Records tumbled for Pakistan in Bulawayo, where the green shirts on Friday set a record-breaking 399-run target, beating Zimbabwe by 244 runs in the fourth match of their five-match One Day International (ODI) series.Opener Fakhar Zaman has become the first Pakistani batsman to enter the 200 club in One-day International cricket when he scored an unbeaten 210 runs against Zimbabwe.
Zaman together with Imam-ul-Haq catapulted to the top with their staggering performance for scoring the highest opening ODI partnership after their captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and decided to bat first in the fourth one-day international against Zimbabwe on Friday.
The duo made 304 runs to set a new world record of the highest opening stand, previously held by Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya who had scored 286 against England at Leeds in 2006.
Zaman remained not out on 210 to see Pakistan set the hosts a huge target of 400 runs as they already won the series with 3-0 up by virtue of crushing Zimbabwe in the first three games.
Zaman’s opening partner Imam also hit a century – 113 off 122 balls with eight fours and then allrounder Asif Ali smashed three sixes and five fours in his unbeaten 50 from just 22 balls in an unbeaten second wicket stand of 95 runs with Zaman.
Zaman struck five sixes and 24 boundaries during his 156-ball stay at the crease.
After Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and batted, Zaman and Imam quickly vindicating his decision, taking 59 from the opening Powerplay. Zaman was first to his 50 in the 18th over, from 51 deliveries, with a fierce drive through extra cover.
He was also first to his hundred, in the 32nd over. It was the third ODI century in his career and his second in this series. Imam followed six overs later, while the world record for an opening stand fell halfway through the 40th over.
Zimbabwe eventually struck when Imam top-edged a slog sweep off Wellington Masakadza´s left-arm spin to be caught in the deep, but Asif Ali ensured that the runs kept flowing. While Zaman raced to his double century in the 47th over, Ali smashed five fours and three sixes to reach a maiden international fifty from just 22 deliveries.
The green shirts' highest-ever total, which surpassed their previous record of 385 runs against Bangladesh, was bolstered by an impressive double ton by left-hander Fakhar Zaman, who today became the fifth-highest scorer in ODIs. His 210 not out also beat Saeed Anwar's previous 194-run record for Pakistan, set some 21 years ago.
Fakhar and Imamul Haq also broke the record for Pakistan's highest ODI partnership for any wicket. The pair surpassed the previous record of 263 runs, set by Aamir Sohail and Inzamamul Haq against New Zealand in 1994.
The two also broke the world record for the highest-ever opening stand — set by Sarnath Jamahiriyas and Pul Charanga for Sri Lanka against England at Headingley in 2006 — making 304 together before Haq departed.
The hosts' innings was wrapped up in the 43rd over, with the team all out for 155 runs. Zimbabwe's 244-run defeat was their second heaviest in ODIs, and they avoided that calamity only through a 69-run sixth wicket stand between Elton Waggumbura and Donald Timpano.
Shadab took four wickets in 8.4 overs, giving away only 28 runs.

Pakistan XI:

Imam ul Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c/w), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah, Junaid Khan, Usman Khan.

Zimbabwe XI:

Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Hamilton Masakadza, Tarisai Musakanda, Peter Moor, Ryan Murray (w), Elton Chigumbura, Donald Tiripano, Tendai Chisoro, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava Umpires: Langton Rusere (ZIM), Ian Gould (ENG) TV Umpire: Russell Tiffin (ZIM)
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