HARARE: Yasir Shah wrecked Zimbabwe’s batting lineup with six for 26 as Pakistan cruised to a 131-run win in the opening one-dayer at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Zimbabwe were bowled out for 128 in 37 overs after Pakistan had piled up 259 for six.

A century partnership from Mohammad Rizwan and Imad Wasim set the touring side up for victory but it was the leg breaks of 29-year-old spinner Yasir that proved decisive.

Imad and Rizwan shared a stand of 124 for the sixth wicket to help Pakistan recover after they had slumped to 35 for three.

Rizwan scored a career-best 75 not out and Imad, run out for 61, struck a maiden international half-century.

Zimbabwe then lost wickets at regular intervals in their reply.

Sean Williams top-scored with 26 as Yasir returned his best ODI figures and off-spinner Shoaib Malik claimed three for 30.

The second game in the three-match series, all being played at the Harare Sports Club, is on Saturday.

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan innings:

A. Ali run out 11

A. Shehzad c Chigumbura b Panyangara 12

M. Hafeez c Masakadza b Jongwe 10

S. Ahmed c Williams b Cremer 44

S. Malik b Nyumbu 31

M. Rizwan not out 75

I. Wasim run out 61

A. Yamin not out 1

Extras: 14

Total: (6 wkts, 50 overs) 259

Fall of wkts: 1-16, 2-24, 3-35, 4-100, 5-128, 6-252.

Bowling: Panyangara 9-1-66-1, Jongwe 9-1-42-1, Chibhabha 8-1-25-0, Cremer 6-0-45-1, Williams 9-0-35-0, Nyumbu 9-0-39-1.

Zimbabwe innings:

B. Chari b Y. Shah 16

C. Chibhabha lbw I. Wasim 12

H. Masakadza b Y. Shah 15

S. Williams b S. Malik 26

Sikandar Raza c S. Malik b Y. Shah 19

E. Chigumbura c M. Rizwan b Y. Shah 22

R. Mutumbami c M. Hafeez b Y. Shah 3

L. Jongwe lbw S. Malik 0

G. Cremer lbw S.Malik 2

T. Panyangara c I. Wasim b Yasir Shah 4

J. Nyumbu not out 2

Extras: 7

Total: (37 overs) 128

Fall of wkts: 1-23, 2-38, 3-54, 4-89, 5-101, 6-107, 7-108, 8-122, 9-122, 10-128.

Bowling: Mohammad Irfan 4-2-7-0, Aamer Yamin 6-1-22-0, Imad Wasim 7-0-24-1, Yasir Shah 9-0-26-6, Wahab Riaz 4-0-18-0, Shoaib Malik 7-0-30-3.