Kamran Ghulam etched his name into Pakistan’s cricketing history with an unforgettable performance, propelling the ‘Men in Green’ to a commanding victory in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) against Zimbabwe on November 28. The match, held at Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club, saw Pakistan clinch the series 2-1, marking a significant achievement in their cricketing calendar.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Pakistan’s opening pair of Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique gave the team a solid start, amassing 58 runs at the top of the order. Ayub, fresh off a blistering century in the previous ODI, continued his aggressive approach, striking 31 runs off 37 balls with three boundaries and a six. However, his promising innings was cut short when he fell to Faraz Akram in the 13th over. Shafique, undeterred by the early loss, pressed on to score his sixth ODI half-century, sharing a crucial 50-plus partnership with Kamran Ghulam. Ghulam, who has been a consistent presence in the middle order, built a partnership of 113 runs with Shafique before being dismissed for 50 off 68 balls.
The star of the day, however, was Ghulam, who played a career-defining knock. Coming in at number three, he crafted a brilliant century, scoring 103 runs off 99 balls. His innings, adorned with 10 boundaries and four sixes, was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s total. Ghulam shared a vital 89-run partnership with captain Mohammad Rizwan (37 off 47), followed by a brief but explosive stand of 31 with Agha Salman (30 off 26). Despite falling in the slog overs to Richard Ngarava, Ghulam’s century had set Pakistan on course for a formidable total. Rizwan was dismissed soon after, becoming Sikandar Raza’s second wicket, but a quick-fire 29* from Tayyab Tahir ensured Pakistan finished with a daunting 303-6 in 50 overs.
In response, Zimbabwe’s chase faltered early. Saim Ayub, sharing the new ball with Agha Salman, struck early by dismissing openers Joylord Gumbie and Dion Myers within the first three overs. Abrar Ahmed, who had impressed with four wickets in the previous match, continued his fine form by removing Tadiwanashe Marumani, reducing Zimbabwe to 34-3. Zimbabwe’s captain, Craig Ervine (51 off 63), and senior batter Sean Williams (24 off 29), briefly revived hopes with a 41-run partnership. But the middle order collapsed as Aamer Jamal and Haris Rauf took key wickets, leaving Zimbabwe reeling at 123-5.
Jamal further dented Zimbabwe’s hopes by dismissing Ervine and Sikandar Raza in quick succession, while Abrar Ahmed broke the resistance of Brian Bennett. The tail was mopped up by Faisal Akram and Rauf, with Pakistan wrapping up Zimbabwe’s innings for just 204 in 40.1 overs. With a 99-run victory, Pakistan sealed the match and the series, triumphing by a 2-1 margin. Ghulam’s all-round performance, with both bat and ball, was the defining moment of the match, as Pakistan clinched a historic series win against Zimbabwe.
