Imran Nazir steers Pakistan to post 349 runs

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Pakistan for the first time in the 2007 World Cup looked in form after being ousted from the mega event when they set Zimbabwe an improbable target of 350 runs in their last group ‘D’ match here today.Put in by Zimbabwean captain Prosper Utseya, Pakistan piled up a huge score of 349 runs in 49.5 overs, thanks to opener Imran Nazir’s devastating career-best innings of 160 from 121 deliveries. This is the highest individual score by any batsman in this World Cup.Imran hammered 14 fours and eight record equaling sixes to share the World Cup record with Australia’s Ricky Ponting for hitting the most sixes in an innings. Ponting did it in 2002-03 when he hit eight sixes in his unbeaten innings of 140 against India at Johannesburg.Pakistan’s 349 is their highest World Cup innings and the eighth highest in the World Cup history. Pakistn’s previous best was 338 for five in 60 overs against Sri Lanka at Swansea in the 1983 World Cup.The main feature of the innings was captain Inzamam-ul-Haq’s emotional exit from the ODI field. He scored 37 off 35 balls with three fours and the same number of sixes. He was given a warm send-off by the Zimbabwean and Pakistani players when Inzamam returned to pavilion with tears in his eyes.Elton Chigumbura was the most successful Zimbabwean bowler who took three wickets for 50 runs.

Inzamam leaves field with tears in his eyes

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Pakistan captain and one of the leading batsmen in the present cricket world, Inzamam-ul-Haq, has finally left the field after playing his last innings in One-day International cricket here at Sabina Park today.In his 378th ODI, the 37-year-old veteran cricketer scored 37 off 35 deliveries and hit three sixes and two fours. When he got out, caught Stuart Williams bowled Mupariwa, all Zimbabwean fielders gathered around him and shook hands to see off the great batsman who could not control his emotions at the moment. Pakistani players also came out of the dressing room to receive their tearful captain.Inzamam, who was shattered by the shock defeat to cricket minnows Ireland and dejected by the sudden death of coach Bob Woolmer in the wake of Pakistan’s loss, today played only to bid farewell to his ODI cricket career.Inzamam-ul-Haq has played 378 one-dayers over a 15-year career. He has scored 11,739 runs, which is the second highest aggregate in One-day International cricket. He hit 10 hundreds and a world record 83 fifties.He has appeared in five successive cricket world cups since1992 when he famously sparked his side into the final with a dashing 60 off 37 balls in the semi-final against New Zealand. He has scored 717 runs in 35 World Cup matches.However, Inzamam said he will be available in Test cricket, not as captain but as a player.