Tri-Series

HARARE: Pakistan made a strong comeback against Australia in the fifth match of a tri-series at Harare, beating the strong Aussie side by 45 runs. Opener Zaman smashed a blistering 73 off 42 balls helping his team post a fighting total of 194. Youngster Hassan Talat also scored impressive 30 for 25 balls including a six and three 4s. In lower down the order, Asif Ali provided much-needed thrust to the batting with his 37 off just 18 balls, followed by Shoaib Malik's 27. Stanlake remained wicket-less in his four…

HARARE: Pakistan knocked Zimbabwe out of the Twenty20 tri-series in Harare in a closely-fought encounter on Wednesday, beating the hosts by seven wickets with five deliveries to spare. Captain Sarfraz Ahmed saw his home side with an unbeaten 38, meaning that Zimbabwean allrounder Solomon Mire's efforts earlier in the game went in vain. Mire struck 94, the highest score by a Zimbabwean in a Twenty20 international, but Zimbabwe's 162 for 4 was not enough to overcome the world's top ranked T20I side. Pakistan's chase…

HARARE: Australia fast bowler Billy Stanlake rediscovered his aggressive streak to demolish Pakistan’s top order and set up a nine-wicket win for his side in the second match of the T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe. “The boys have been talking to me in the last few days about being a little more aggressive, so that’s why I came out and tried to do that,” said Stanlake. The tactic brought almost immediate success, and he went on to record figures of four for 8 in his opening burst, the most economical spell by an…

HARARE: A career best 61 from opening batsman Fakhar Zaman helped Pakistan beat hosts Zimbabwe by 74 runs in their tri-series opener at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.  In reply to Pakistan’s imposing 182 for 4, Zimbabwe scored 108. Zaman’s efforts were boosted by a late flurry of boundaries from Asif Ali and veteran batsman Shoaib Malik, who put on an unbroken 62 for the fifth wicket at the death. Zaman kept Pakistan steady through the first half of their innings while Zimbabwe, having opted to bowl first, chipped…

Pakistan will stay after the tri-series in July for a five-match ODI series.

ROTTERDAM: A triangular Twenty20 International series between the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland will be held in the Dutch cities of Rotterdam, Deventer and Amstelveen from 12-20 June this year, the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) have announced. “This tournament will become an annual event between the three strongest European cricket countries,” said KNCB in a statement. All three countries were in with a shot at qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, but failed to make the cut at the ICC Cricket World…

COLOMBO: Mushfiqur Rahim hit a blazing half-century to help Bangladesh chase down a record 215 and beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in a thrilling Twenty20 international of the tri-series in Colombo on Saturday. Rahim smashed an unbeaten 72 off 35 balls as the visitors achieved their target with two balls to spare at the R Premadasa Stadium. Rahim, who hit 5 fours and 4 sixes, broke into a dance after giving Bangladesh their highest-ever run chase in the shortest format, and the fourth biggest overall in international…