Pakistan fans hold up a poster to welcome the Zimbabwe team at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Friday. Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in a T20 game at home, the first international match at home in six years after terrorists attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team in 2009. AP/PTI
LAHORE, May 22
Pakistan marked international cricket's return to the trouble-torn country with a five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 International at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Openers Mukhtar Ahmed (83) and Ahmed Shehzad (55) added 142 runs before captain Shahid Afridi hit a boundary off the first ball he faced to seal an emotional victory with three balls to spare. Earlier, Hamilton Masakadza (43) shone upfront and captain Elton Chigumbura (54) provided the late assault to help Zimbabwe post a strong 172-6 having opting to bat first.
The visitors got off to a strong start with Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda adding 58 runs before Mohammad Sami (3-36) dismissed the openers in successive deliveries in the seventh over.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe: 172/6 (Chigumbura 54, Sami 3-36) lost to Pakistan: 173 for 5 (Mukhtar 83, Shehzad 55) by five wickets. — Reuters
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