Pakistan 299 for 4 in 50 overs (Mohammed Hafeez 136*, Umar Amin 59, Shahid Afridi 39*; B. Vitori 2-68)
Zimbabwe 209 all out in 42.4 overs (Brendan Taylor 79, Malcolm Waller 40; Junaid Khan 4-15, Abdur Rehman 2-36)

Pakistan won by 90 runs.

Trailing one-nil and facing the possibility of losing the series, Pakistan were expected to come back strongly against Zimbabwe on Thursday, in their second One-Day International (ODI) match.

This they did, notwithstanding their second loss of the toss in the Zong Presents the Haier Cup series, which saw them sent in to bat first.

And yet it looked like Zimbabwe would continue on their history-making run which started with their first win in 15 years against Pakistan on Tuesday, when Brian Vitori had Ahmed Shehzad (5) caught by Timycen Maruma, leaving it 12 runs up for one wicket down after 3.6 overs.

Then Prosper Utseya trapped Nasir Jamshed (32) leg before wicket and Pakistan were 62 for two after 14.1 overs.

But Pakistan’s Twenty20 International captain Mohammad Hafeez was not going to let the Zimbabwe bowlers carry the day and set about to work. His effort stuttered twice: when he was on 30 and was almost caught but a diving Vitori could not hold onto the ball at deep square leg, and when he lost the experienced Misbah-ul-Haq. The visiting captain was caught by Sean Williams off Vitori after putting up just three runs.

Then came Umar Amin, playing in only his eighth ODI. Together with the much more experienced Hafeez, with 120 more ODI caps, they made 129 runs. Amin notched his first ever half-century in the process, before he was run out through a direct hit by Tendai Chatara. Hafeez would go all the way, and finish three runs short of his highest ODI knock (139*), which coincidentally was made at Harare Sports Club, two years ago.
Chasing 300 runs to win, Zimbabwe never really got going as no pair ever really dug in long enough to make it count.

The historic victory in the first ODI on Tuesday was crafted on the sturdy opening partnership of Hamilton Masakadza and Vusimuzi Sibanda. On Thursday, Sibanda departed for two after 2.2 overs: one for six. Then Masakadza for 24 after 7.5 overs: two for 42. Maruma was then run out in the 15th over, after making just eight runs: three for 65.

And the hosts continued to haemorrhage.

Brendan Taylor (79) fought back with his first 50 in 13 innings, and Malcolm Waller added a run-a-ball 40 before he was bowled by Junaid Khan. The 23-year old fast bowler then cleaned up the Zimbabwe middle order, requiring just one ball to dismiss Elton Chigumbura lbw. The all-rounder did not trouble the scorers.

Khan then bowled Utseya for three on his way to figures of four for 15 in seven overs. It was over for Zimbabwe.

With the series level on one, the third and final ODI on Saturday is now a decider. Play begins at 0930 hours local time.