Zimbabwe 3-246 (Hamilton Masakadza 85, Vusi Sibanda 54, Sean Williams 39*, Saeed Ajmal 2-44) beat Pakistan 7-244 (Misbah-ul-Haq 83*, Mohammad Hafeez 70, Tendai Chatara 2-32) by seven wickets.

Zimbabwe humiliated the visiting Pakistan after 15 years mainly because of a sterling batting by Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda and by their hostile bowling.

Pakistan scored 244 runs with three wickets remaining at the end of the scheduled 50 overs and Zimbabwe powered 246 in 48.2 overs for the loss of just three wickets.

Hamilton Masakadza (Zimbabwe) was announced ‘Player of the match’ for his adventurous knock of 85.

The first One Day International of the three match series was played on Tuesday, August 27, 2013, at Harare Sports Club.

Earlier, Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain of the Green Shirts, won the toss and elected to bat first. Nasir Jamshed along with Ahmed Shehzad opened the innings in a slow manner by scoring just 13 runs in the first five overs without any boundary. The latter hit the first four in the next over, Nasir Jamshed was dropped at 5 and got another chance at 10. The sloppy fielding of the hosts continued when they let off Ahmed Shehzad at 15 in the 11^th over but he was caught behind by Brendan Taylor off Prosper Utseya for 24.

Mohammad Hafeez walked in next, he hit a six on the fifth ball of the 19^th over and was dropped on the next one. Nasir Jamshed lost his wicket for 27 as the total touched 80 and Misbah-ul-Haq got together with Mohammad Hafeez. The batsmen kept the score board moving while sending the ball out of the fence a few times. Mohammad Hafeez dispatched 3 fours in the 29^th over and attained his 18^th ODI fifty in the next one. He was finally caught by Timycen Maruma at backward point off Chatara for 70 from 71 balls with 3 high sixes and 6 fours. The remaining batting revolved around Misbah-ul-Haq who smashed his 30^th ODI half century in the 41^st over. He hit 2 sixes in the final over and remained unbeaten for 83 off 85 deliveries comprising 2 lofty sixes and 3 fours as Pakistan reached 244 for the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs.

Brian Vitori and Tendai Chatara were the most successful bowlers with two wickets each whereas Prosper Utseya got one.

Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda went into chase with determination as the first hit 3 fours in the sixth over off Junaid Khan. Sibanda got two boundaries in the next one and they kept the score board running at will. Vusi Sibanda got his 20^th ODI fifty in the 23^rd over with a four but was declared leg before wicket off Saeed Ajmal for 54 from 82 with 6 fours. The skipper of Zimbabwe, Brendan Taylor, got together with Masakadza who plundered his 20^th ODI half century two overs later. The batsmen kept the run rate under check and the latter was enjoying his batting in the middle.

Hamilton Maskadza accumulated 12 runs in the 32^nd over with 1 six and 1 four while Taylor was doing fine at his end. The second wicket partnership was broken at 176 in 37.4 overs when Hamilton Masakadza was caught by Misbah-ul-Haq at short cover off Saeed Ajmal for 85 scored from 104 balls with 1 six and 9 fours. The incoming batsman, Timycen Maruma, left the field after scoring 18 runs as Sean Williams appeared in the park next. The two batsmen in the center did not look behind after that and Williams hit the winning six on the second ball of the 49^th over. He secured his end for 39 off 23 mere balls with 1 six and 4 fours, Brendan Taylor was at the other end at 43 off 59 with 4 fours as the home side rushed to 246 with seven wickets still in hand.

Saeed Ajmal was the most impressive bowler with two wickets whereas Jumaid Khan held one.

Zimbabwe clinched the first ODI with a huge margin of seven wickets and leads the three match series 1-0. The second game will be played on August 29, 2013, at the same venue.