Pakistan cruise into quarters

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP):

Pakistan qualified for the World Cup quarter-finals with a seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe yesterday, after chasing down a revised target with almost four overs to spare in a rain-marred Group A match.

Zimbabwe's innings was twice stopped by rain and the African team finished at 151-7 in 39.4 overs at the second interruption.

Fast bowler Umar Gul (3-36) exploited the overcast conditions and only Craig Ervine played a fighting knock of 52.

Pakistan made 164-3 in 34.1 overs after their target was revised to 162 in 38 overs. Middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq made an impressive World Cup debut, scoring 78 off 97 balls.

Pakistan have eight points and will meet Australia in their last league match to determine finishing places in the group.

Since losing the 1999 final to Australia, Pakistan had twice failed to go beyond the first round at the World Cup. So the win over Zimbabwe had extra meaning for the Pakistan team.

Shafiq replaced injured Umar Akmal and featured in two productive half-century stands, adding 82 runs with Mohammad Hafeez (49) and a further 54 runs with former captain Younis Khan (13).

Earlier, Ervine top-scored with 52 from 82 balls, but Zimbabwe's innings never gained momentum after they slumped to 43-4 in the 13th over.

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, heavily criticised for missing two chances in the 110-run loss to New Zealand last week, made sure he did not miss Brendan Taylor's edge in the very first over off Abdul Razzaq, then Gul trapped Regis Chakabva to make it 5-2.

Little difference

Zimbabwe had a reprieve at 41-3 in the 12th over when Misbah couldn't hold onto Ervine's edge into the slips off Razzaq, when the batsman had scored 13.

But it made little difference as left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz struck from the other end to dismiss Tatenda Taibu.

Zimbabwe struggled to 96-5 in the 28th over when rain stopped play for the first time.

Offspinner Hafeez bowled Ervine in the second over when play resumed after 100 minutes.

Chigumbura (32) and Prosper Utseya (18) got established before taking the batting powerplay.