Close Zimbabwe 232 all out (G Flower 91, A Flower 48, W Akram 3-19) lost to Pakistan 261 for 9 (Y Khan 59, S Afridi 58) by 29 runs
Scorecard

It was a valiant attempt by the Flower brothers, but in the end even their heroics were not enough to snatch victory. Zimbabwe fell short of Pakistan's 261 by 29 runs, to give Pakistan their second win of the tournament, and take their own run of consecutive one-day losses to 16. It also means Pakistan will definitely play Sri Lanka in Sunday's final.

Zimbabwe looked completely out of the match at 13 for 2, but Andy Flower joined brother Grant, and produced the partnership of the tournament – 146 in a shade over 25 overs which nearly took Zimbabwe to an improbable victory.

But Wasim Akram, who bowled superbly without any luck in his first spell, came back to turn the game on its head with the wickets of Andy Flower and Dion Ebrahim in one over. He finished with figures of 3 for 19 off 9 overs.

Zimbabwe began their quest for victory on a poor note, as usual. Pakistan's pace duo of Wasim and Waqar Younis turned in a fearsome display of fast bowling with the new ball. Akram conceded 13 in six overs, while Waqar had figures of 2 for 16 in six. Zimbabwe hit their first four in the 12th over – a good indication of Pakistan's dominance.

Younis struck twice in the eighth over – Gripper flicked his first ball straight to Yousuf Youhana at short square-leg, and three deliveries later, Stuart Carlisle wafted at a wide one and nicked it to wicketkeeper Rashid Latif. The first wicket gave Waqar his 350th wicket in one-day internationals.

The Flower brothers looked to see off the Wasim-Waqar duo. They did that successfully, and then went after the change bowlers, Azhar Mahmood and Abdur Razzaq. Grant Flower hit two fours in Razzaq's first over – a well-timed flick to square leg and a lofted off-drive. He repeated the performance in Mahmood's next over, as 32 had come in the next four overs.

Grant played the dominant role with some superb strokes on both sides of the wicket. He brought up his fifty with a magnificent on-drive off Azhar Mahmood, and celebrated with a savage sweep off Danish Kaneria, followed by an exquisite cover-drive.

Andy Flower was content to take singles and allowed his brother to take most of the strike. But he showed signs of moving up a gear when he danced down the track and smote Abdur Razzaq over midwicket. He then turned his attention to Kaneria with a powerful sweep for four.

At the 30-over mark, Zimbabwe needed just 117 runs to win, at less than six an over. Younis turned to his experienced bowler, and Wasim did not let him down, as he struck twice in his eighth over. Andy Flower, who had motored along to 48, checked his shot off a slower delivery but only succeeded in chipping the ball towards the bowler. Akram displayed the alacrity of a 20-year-old in diving forward and snatching the ball just inches off the ground. Rookie Dion Ebrahim received a perfect awayswinger second ball, which kissed the edge. Wicketkeeper Rashid Latif flung himself to his right to bring off a superb catch.

Grant Flower had meanwhile progressed to within nine runs of his hundred when he was unluckily run out. Doug Marillier hit a fierce straight drive, which Azhar Mahmood deflected to the stumps. Non-striker Flower had backed up too far and didn't have a chance. His 91 came off 128 balls with 11 fours.

Sean Ervine lasted just three balls, as he went for a hoick off Abdur Razzaq which only travelled as far as mid-on, where Waqar Younis held onto a sitter. Heath Streak didn't last too long and five wickets had fallen for just 16 runs to leave the Zimbabwean innings in disarray.

Doug Marillier struck some bold blows in making 37, but it wasn't enough to prevent another defeat.

Earlier, Zimbabwe fought back well to restrict Pakistan to 261, after Shahid Afridi had given them a rollicking start. Riding on his 36-ball 58, Pakistan raced to 89 after 15 overs. Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan then steadied the innings, after Inzamam-ul-Haq had retired hurt early in his innings. Zimbabwe hit back with five wickets for 31 runs towards the end of the innings, and Pakistan had to settle for a score which was at least 25 less than they would have expected.

Pakistan started slowly: the first seven overs produced just 29 runs for the wicket of debutant Naveed Latif, as both Heath Streak and Henry Olonga bowled tidily. But when captain Brian Murphy took Olonga off and introduced the gentle pace of Gary Brent, the match was at once transformed.

Afridi sent the first delivery soaring over Brent's head for a six; the next ball produced another six, this time over extra cover. Afridi repeated the treatment off the first two deliveries of Brent's next over. After conceding 27 in two overs, Murphy quickly pulled Brent out of the attack.

Afridi then turned his attention to Doug Marillier striking a six and a four off his first two deliveries. But Marillier's revenge was immediate but fortunate - a short, slow long-hop should have been punished but instead flew high in the air and was caught by Gripper at mid-off. Inzamam's stay at the crease was brief – he retired hurt when he inside-edged Olonga into his groin, and left in pain.

Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan played sensibly in the middle overs, milking singles but also putting the bad balls away. They stitched together 65 before Brent trapped Youhana in front with a cleverly disguised slower ball. Azhar Mahmood made a fluent 29, but then wickets fell in a rash, as Pakistan inexplicably lost their way. The last 10 overs produced just 56 runs for the loss of five wickets.

Pakistan 1 Naved Latif, 2 Shahid Afridi, 3 Yousuf Youhana, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq , 5 Younis Khan, 6 Rashid Latif (wk), 7 Abdur Razzaq, 8 Wasim Akram, 9 Azhar Mahmood, 10 Waqar Younis (capt), 11 Danish Kaneria.

Zimbabwe, 1 Trevor Gripper, 2 Grant Flower, 3 Stuart Carlisle, 5 Andy Flower (wk), 5 Doug Marillier, 6 Dion Ebrahim, 7 Brian Murphy (capt), 8 Heath Streak, 9 Gary Brent, 10 Sean Ervine, 11 Henry Olonga.

S Rajesh is a sub-editor on Wisden.com India.

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