Yasir six-for inspires Pakistan to easy win over Zimbabwe in first ODI

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah continued his rampaging form by scalping six wickets as Pakistan thumped Zimbabwe by 131 runs in the first one-day international of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Put in to bat first, the tourists recovered from a wobbling start as they were reeling at 35-3 in the 9.5 overs before Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik steadied the ship by engineering a 65-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Subsequently, Pakistan posted a respectable 260-run target after Mohammad Rizwan and Imad Wasim (61) consolidated the innings through their middle overs and went on to hit a 124-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Rizwan remained unbeaten on career-best 75.

In reply, Zimbabwe also failed to get a promising start as Yasir maintained a complete stranglehold over the hosts on a slow surface. His six for 26 is the second-best figures by a Pakistan spinner in ODIs.

Zimbabwe were eventually bundled out for 128 within 38 overs, with Sean Williams (26) being the top scorer for his side.

With the win, Pakistan have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series with second match to be played on Saturday.