Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI Live Score

Craig Ervine is the new batter for Zimbabwe.

Saim Ayub to Dion Myers, OUT! CAUGHT! Two in the over for Ayub! Zimbabwe have been rocked early! Floated up by Ayub, full and at the stumps, Dion Myers gets down and goes hard on the sweep shot. Does not roll his wrists on the ball and it flies off the top edge towards deep backward square leg where Faisal Akram takes a couple of steps behind and takes a reverse-cup catch over his head.

Saim Ayub to Dion Myers, Flatter and shorter, on off, Dion camps back and pats it to cover.

Saim Ayub to Dion Myers, FOUR! Gets it through! Drops it short, around off, Dion gets on top of it and punches it to the left of cover for a boundary.

Saim Ayub to Dion Myers, This lands and spins away, on a nagging length, around off, Dion pokes at the delivery and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Dion Myers is the new batter at number 3 for Zimbabwe.

Is that out? Joylord Gumbie hits the ball straight but low towards mid-wicket and the fielder takes the catch very close to the ground. The umpires refer it upstairs to check if it's a clean catch and the third umpire is satisfied that Tahir has his fingers underneath the ball.

Saim Ayub to Joylord Gumbie, OUT! TAKEN! Sharp catch! Marumani stands there in disbelief. Not a wicket-taking delivery by any means, way too short, on off, there to be put away, Marumani presses on the back foot and pulls it flat and low towards mid-wicket where Tayyab Tahir reacts quickly and dives forward to take it inches off the turf. Marumani is asked to wait by the umpires as the catch is referred upstairs. The third umpire looks at a couple of angles and concludes that Tahir had his fingers clearly underneath the ball.

Salman Agha to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Slanting in from around the wicket, short and on middle, Marumani tucks it on the leg side.

Salman Agha to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Slows it down, short in length, on middle, Tadiwanashe Marumani turns it to mid-wicket.

Salman Agha to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Looped up, full and on off, Tadiwanashe Marumani lunges to block it out.

Salman Agha to Joylord Gumbie, Short and on off, Joylord Gumbie clips it past mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Salman Agha to Joylord Gumbie, Slower and shorter, on off, Joylord Gumbie watchfully defends it out.

Salman Agha to Tadiwanashe Marumani, On a nagging length, on middle, Tadiwanashe Marumani punches it in front of mid on and takes a quick single.

Salman Agha will operate from the other end.

Saim Ayub to Joylord Gumbie, FOUR! Easy pickings! Fired in, fuller and on the pads, Joylord Gumbie sweeps it fine and beats short leg to his right for a boundary.

Saim Ayub to Joylord Gumbie, On a nagging length, around off, Joylord Gumbie pats it to cover off the front foot.

Saim Ayub to Joylord Gumbie, Angling in, full and on off, Joylord Gumbie gets on the front foot and blocks it out.

Saim Ayub to Joylord Gumbie, Attacking the front pad, fuller and on off, Joylord Gumbie gets his bat out in front to dab it down the deck.

Saim Ayub to Joylord Gumbie, Beaten! This goes the other way, on a nagging length, around off, Gumbie plays for the ball turning back into him but it spins away to go past the outside ede.

Saim Ayub to Joylord Gumbie, Floated up, very slow, full and on off, Gumbie presses forward in defence.

Welcome back for Zimbabwe's reply. Mohammad Rizwan has the helmet on as he makes his way out to the middle along with the rest of the Pakistan players, so, we could see spin from the first over. Indeed, the tourists are starting with spin in the form of Saim Ayub. It will be Joylord Gumbie and Tadiwanashe Marumani to open the innings for Zimbabwe. Let's play...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

With 304 runs needed to create history and win their first series against Pakistan, Zimbabwe face a monumental task. Will their batters rise to the occasion, or will Pakistan’s bowlers defend the target and seal the series? An intriguing chase awaits in the second innings. Stay tuned for all the action!

For Zimbabwe, the bowlers had a mixed outing. They maintained discipline in the middle phase but lost control at the death where Pakistan capitalized. Sikandar Raza and Richard Ngarava were the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2 wickets each, while Blessing Muzarabani and Faraz Akram chipped in with one apiece. Despite their efforts, the death overs proved costly, allowing Pakistan to build a challenging total. It became tougher for the bowlers towards the end as Pakistan managed to score 69 runs in the last 5 overs.

The openers, Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub provided a steady start with a solid 58-run stand. Saim departed after a well-made 31, but Shafique carried on to register a crucial half-century, scoring 50 runs to anchor the innings early on. It was, however, Kamran Ghulam who stole the show, smashing a sensational 103 off 99 balls, featuring 10 fours and 4 sixes. His knock was a masterclass in timing and power, as he kept the scoreboard ticking and launched Pakistan into a commanding position. Contributions from skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha added valuable runs in the middle overs. While both looked set for bigger scores, they fell at pivotal moments, missing the chance to capitalize further. Tayyab Tahir’s unbeaten 29 in the final overs provided the finishing touch, ensuring Pakistan crossed the 300-run mark.

The first innings of this series-deciding match has come to an end, with Pakistan putting up an impressive 303/6 in their 50 overs. After winning the toss and opting to bat on a pitch that favored the batters, Pakistan’s innings was highlighted by a brilliant maiden ODI century from Kamran Ghulam.

Richard Ngarava to Aamer Jamal, Good last couple of balls from Ngarava to close out the innings! Another yorker, angling away, on off, Jamal jams it out in front of point for just a single. 14 runs off the final over. Pakistan finish on 303/6!

Richard Ngarava to Tayyab Tahir, Stays around the wicket and bowls it full, on off, Tahir drags it down to long on for a run.

Richard Ngarava to Tayyab Tahir, NO BALL! The 300 comes up for Pakistan! Richard Ngarava changes his angle of attack as he comes from around the wicket and digs it in short, over middle, Tahir mistimes the pull and it lands well in front of the deep mid-wicket fielder for two more runs. Oh, no, Richard has overstepped. Free Hit to follow now.

Richard Ngarava to Tayyab Tahir, And again! Pace taken off, on a short of a length, on off, Tahir rises with the bounce and hits it flat and to the right of deep cover. Tahir comes haring back for the second run.

Richard Ngarava to Tayyab Tahir, This is angled across, on a shortish length, around off, Tahir thumps it to the right of deep cover for a couple of runs.

Richard Ngarava to Aamer Jamal, On a good length, on the pads, Jamal fails to flick it away. A leg bye is sneaked in as the ball rolls on the off side.

Richard Ngarava to Aamer Jamal, FOUR! Good start to the final over for Pakistan! Short and going across, on off, Jamal hops and slices it up and over backward point for a boundary.

Blessing Muzarabani to Tayyab Tahir, FOUR! Smart batting Banged in, on a short of a length, outside off, Tahir is way across his stumps and scoops it over short fine leg for a four.

Blessing Muzarabani to Tayyab Tahir, WIDE! Fuller and slower, way outside off, left alone by Tahir.

Blessing Muzarabani to Aamer Jamal, Another slower delivery, on a nagging length, at the body of the batter, Jamal swings across the line but fails to connect. He gets called through for a quick single by Tahir. Blessing Muzarabani runs in on his follow through to get to the ball but as he bends, Tahir goes past him and that seems to put Blessing off. No appeal for obstructing the field though as Tahir was running in a straight line and did not change direction.

Aamer Jamal comes out to bat now for Pakistan.

Blessing Muzarabani to Irfan Khan, OUT! TAKEN! The slower ball does the trick for Blessing Muzarabani! Angled in, on a length, following the batter, Irfan backs away to launch it down the ground. He gets done by the slowness of the delivery. Fails to get any power on it and hits it flat towards long on where Sean Williams runs in off the ropes and slides to take the catch.

Blessing Muzarabani to Irfan Khan, Slower one, on a length, outside off, Irfan swings way too early and connects with thin air.

Blessing Muzarabani to Irfan Khan, On a length, on middle, Irfan swipes it to the right of deep backward squar leg for a couple of runs.

Blessing Muzarabani to Irfan Khan, Dug in short, pace taken off, over middle, Irfan is early into the pull shot and gets a bottom edge that goes on the bounce to the bowler.

Blessing Muzarabani to Tayyab Tahir, TWO WIDES! Full in length, down leg, Tahir misses the tickle. The ball gets parried off the diving keeper's gloves for one more run.

Richard Ngarava to Tayyab Tahir, Low full toss, near the tramline on off, driven firmly but straight to backward point. A half-stop allows there allows the batters to cross for a run.

Richard Ngarava to Tayyab Tahir, FOUR! Flayed away! Richard Ngarava tries to angle it across but ends up offering width on off, on a short of a length, Tahir frees his arms and carves it over backward point for a boundary.

Richard Ngarava to Irfan Khan, Serves it very full, on middle and leg, Irfan clips it through mid-wicket for a run.

Irfan Khan is the next batter in for Pakistan.

Richard Ngarava to Salman Agha, OUT! TAKEN! 'Catch it' is the call from Ngarava and the catch is taken! Bashes the shortish length from over the wicket, on off and middle, Agha tries to take the short ball on but the ball gets too big on him. It balloons off the upper half of the bat and it goes only as far as mid off where Brian Bennett takes a simple catch. Agha falls for 30 (26).

Richard Ngarava to Tayyab Tahir, Angled across, on a nagging length, Tahir slaps it on the up to deep cover for just a single.

Richard Ngarava to Salman Agha, Banged into the deck, short and on off, Agha drags the pull to the right of the bowler for a run.