Malik excels in record match

MOHAMMAD Yousuf’s brilliant century and Shoaib Malik’s all-round contribution helped Pakistan overwhelm Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the fourth one-day international yesterday.

Captain Malik grabbed 3-55 as the tourists were bowled out for 244 before Yousuf hit an unbeaten 108 and Malik notched up an attractive 88 to help their team successfully chase the target in 47 overs. The win, which lifted the home team to a 4-0 lead in the five-match series, came in Pakistan’s world record 673rd one-day match.India previously held the record of playing the most limited-over internationals with 672.Malik, who turns 26 on Saturday, added 141 runs for the third wicket with Yousuf to steady Pakistan’s chase after they lost openers Nasir Jamshed (11) and Khalid Latif (19) by the 15th over.Yousuf delighted the packed 16 000 Iqbal stadium with slick timing, hitting ten boundaries and a six in his 111-ball knock for his 14th one-day hundred – the only century in the series so far.Malik, who has failed with the bat in the last two matches, found his touch as he reached his half-century off 57 balls with seven boundaries.Nampa-AFPThe win, which lifted the home team to a 4-0 lead in the five-match series, came in Pakistan’s world record 673rd one-day match.India previously held the record of playing the most limited-over internationals with 672.Malik, who turns 26 on Saturday, added 141 runs for the third wicket with Yousuf to steady Pakistan’s chase after they lost openers Nasir Jamshed (11) and Khalid Latif (19) by the 15th over.Yousuf delighted the packed 16 000 Iqbal stadium with slick timing, hitting ten boundaries and a six in his 111-ball knock for his 14th one-day hundred – the only century in the series so far.Malik, who has failed with the bat in the last two matches, found his touch as he reached his half-century off 57 balls with seven boundaries.Nampa-AFP