Shoaib Malik hit his first century in six years to help Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in the first One-dayer by 41 runs in Lahore on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
In a day-night encounter, Malik, playing his first ODI in two years, struck a 76-ball 112 with 12 fours and two sixes to steer Pakistan to 375-3 -- their highest against Zimbabwe – before restricting the tourists to 334-5 in 50 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Zimbabwe’s skipper, Elton Chigumbura put on a stoic reply with a quick-fire century (117 off 95 balls), his maiden ODI hundred, but it went in vain.
Chigumbura added 124 for the third wicket with Hamilton Masakadza (73) and another 74 for the fourth with Sean Williams (36).
Chigumbura was bowled in the 45th over by paceman Wahab Riaz who was the best Pakistan bowler with 3-47.
Earlier, Malik, husband of India's tennis star, Sania Mirza, scored his first century since his three-figure knock against India at Centurion in September 2009.
Coming after a 170-run opening stand between Mohammad Hafeez (86) and skipper Azhar Ali (79), Malik hit his hundred -- his first in 31 innings and since September 2009 -- that came off 70 balls as Pakistan added 112 in the last 10 overs.
Malik, 33, was dismissed off the last delivery, caught in the covers off Tinashe Panyangara.
Malik had been part of a 201-run stand with Haris Sohail (89 not out), a new record for the third wicket against Zimbabwe beating the 145 runs which Javed Miandad and Amir Sohail put on at Hobart in 1992.
Sohail's knock came off 66 balls with six boundaries and two sixes.
