Pakistan kept Zimbabwe to a below-par total on a batsmen friendly pitch in Harare. Impressive variation from Sohail Tanvir and Aizaz Cheema and excellent lines and lengths from Junaid Khan meant that Zimbabwe had to grind out their runs at a slow rate. Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor both scored half-centuries but were unable to push on and make amends for Taylor's blunder at the toss - he said he wanted to bat, but later asked to reverse his decision and was denied the opportunity to do so.

With some early assistance on offer for the seamers, the left-arm pair of Tanvir and Junaid took advantage and gave little away. Though Tanvir extracted more movement early on, both bowled on and around the off stump to deny Zimbabwe easy runs. Chamu Chibhabha scored one streaky boundary, a pull shot over the keeper's head, before his frustration gave way and he was caught at mid-off while trying to go over the top.

Vusi Sibanda had no choice but to try and force some runs and embarked on a few signature pulls, but failed to execute them properly. He bottom-edged the first into his thigh and mistimed another to midwicket but survived, Aizaz Cheema at mid-on failing to complete the catch. The only one he got right also looked to be a top edge but sailed over square leg for six. Then, Sibanda perished to the shot for the sixth time in 11 innings when he offered a simple catch behind the stumps off a top-edge.

Junaid continued to impress as his spell went on, with his short ball the delivery that was particularly problematic for Zimbabwe. After seven overs, he injured his ankle while racing to square leg to field off his own bowling and had to leave the field, but returned to complete his spell. He was replaced by Younis Khan, whose gentle medium pacers allowed Zimbabwe to have a profitable 11-run over.

After 20 overs, spin was introduced from both ends with Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal brought on. Zimbabwe eased into single scoring mode, with Masakadza and Taylor putting on the team's best performance against the tweakers, who they struggled against in Bulawayo. With the pair in operation, Zimbabwe managed 52 runs in 10 overs, with the bulk of them coming in well-judged singles. Masakadza took on the responsible role spotting the gaps and doing most of the calling.

Cheema returned to break what was becoming a sizeable partnership but, although he kept run flow down, did not make a breakthrough. Masakadza brought up his half- century with a small nudge to fine leg and Taylor reached the milestone with a quick couple played in the same area. With both having battled that far, they had crafted the platform to launch from, but neither were able to.

Taylor was dismissed trying to upper cut a short and wide delivery and finding third man and Masakadza was run out by a direct throw from Misbah, after just starting to up the ante with Tatenda Taibu at the other end. With the energy Taibu brought to the crease, Masakadza was encouraged to take on the bowling and smashed the biggest shot of the match, with a six that landed in the rugby field and the ball was not recovered.

Taibur swept confidently and was the Zimbabwean batsmen most at ease with the attack but could not add the required impetus needed to push the innings along. He was bowled by Tanvir and it was up to Elton Chigumbura to finish strongly but against Ajmal and Tanvir at the death, it was a tough ask. Only right at the end, did Chigumbura launch and Zimbabwe finished with a 14-run over.