BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistan player to hit a double century in One-Day Internationals as Pakistan crushed Zimbabwe by 244 runs to go 4-0 up in their one-day series on Friday.

Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower called Fakhar's innings "a great achievement". "I've done a lot of work with him in the nets, but he's got a lot of natural talent and he's worked really hard," Flower said of Zaman, who once served in the Pakistan navy before turning to cricket.

"Coming from his background, being in the navy and being very raw when he first came into the set-up, his technique has come a long way. But he's still got a lot of his naturalness, and I think that's his biggest asset. He showed a lot of mental strength today."

Anwar's wasn't the only record to tumble.

Zaman smashed 210 not out from 156 deliveries, moving past the previous record for a Pakistan batsman set by Saeed Anwar with his 194 more than 21 years ago. That wasn't the only record to tumble.

Pakistan's openers blazed a world record 304-run stand, with Imam-ul-Haq hitting 113, the triple hundred partnership becoming Pakistan's biggest for any wicket in ODIs.

It also broke the previous record for an opening stand in all internationals, set by Sanath Jayasuriya and Upal Tharanga for Sri Lanka against England at Headingley in 2006.

"He had a couple of shots where he might have given it away, but he had a bit of luck," said Flower. "But a lot of times when you play with confidence and bravery, the luck goes your way. Hats off to him, it's great to see."

When the opening partnership was eventually snapped, Asif Ali arrived at the crease and immediately went on the attack, smashing 50 from 22 deliveries to help boost Pakistan to another record: their highest ever total in ODIs.

"The difficult thing is he's a guy who likes scoring square of the wicket, and on the type of wickets we're playing on it's quite hard to get him out if it's not nipping around," Zimbabwe seamer Donald Tiripano said of Zaman.

"You need to make sure you don't give him room, try and tuck him up and bowl closer to off stump. And try and force him to hit straight, or in the 'V'. And if you bowl short he'll hit you square."

Zimbabwe's response never got going, and they were lucky to avoid a few other ignominious records when they were bowled out in the 43rd over for 155.

Zimbabwe's 244-run defeat was their second heaviest in ODIs, and they avoided that calamity only through a 69-run sixth wicket stand between Elton Chigumbura and Donald Tiripano.

But that was as good as it got for the hosts, with leg-spinner Shadab Khan taking four for 28 as Pakistan wrapped up the innings having barely broken a sweat.

The visiting openers blazed to a world one-day record 304-run stand, which was also Pakistan's biggest partnership for any wicket in ODIs. The final total was their biggest ODI innings.

After Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and batted, Zaman and ul-Haq quickly vindicating his decision, taking 59 from the opening Powerplay. Zaman was first to his 50 in the 18th over, from 51 deliveries, with a fierce drive through extra cover.

He was also first to his hundred, in the 32nd over. It was the third ODI century in his career and his second in this series. Ul-Haq followed six overs later, while the world record for an opening stand fell halfway through the 40th over.

Zimbabwe eventually struck when Ul-Haq top-edged a slog sweep off Wellington Masakadza's left-arm spin to be caught in the deep, but Ali ensured that the runs kept flowing. While Zaman raced to his double century in the 47th over, Ali smashed five fours and three sixes to reach a maiden international fifty from just 22 deliveries. — AFP

scoreboard

Pakistan

I. ul Haq c Musakanda b W Masakadza 113

F. Zaman not out 210

A. Ali not out 50

Extras: (b4, lb5, w17) 26

Total: (1 wkt, 50 overs) 399

Did not bat: B Azam, S Malik, S Ahmed, F Ashraf, S Khan, Y Shah, J Khan, U Khan

Fall of wickets: 1-304 (ul Haq)

Bowling: Muzarabani 10-0-77-0 (3w); Ngarava 7-0-65-0 (1w); Tiripano 10-0-85-0 (3w); Chisoro 10-0-56-0 (2w); W Masakadza 10-0-78-1 (6w); H Masakadza 3-0-29-0.

Zimbabwe

H. Masakadza c Azam b J Khan 22

T. Kamunhukamwe c & b U Khan 3

T. Musakanda c Ashraf b U Khan 10

R. Murray c Ahmed b Ashraf 5

P. Moor c J Khan b S Khan 20

E. Chigumbura lbw b Ashraf 37

D. Tiripano b S Khan 44

W. Masakadza lbw b S Khan 2

T. Chisoro c U Khan b S Malik 1

B. Muzarabani not out 1

R. Ngarava lbw b S Khan 1

Extras (lb6, w3) 9

Total (all out, 42.4 overs) 155

Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Kamunhukamwe), 2-36 (Musakanda), 3-37 (H Masakadza), 4-59 (Murray), 5-67 (Moor), 6-136 (Chigumbura), 7-146 (W Masakadza), 8-153 (Tiripano), 9-153 (Chisoro), 10-155 (Ngarava)

Bowling: J Khan 6-1-32-1 (1w); U Khan 5-0-23-2 (1w); Shah 10-0-31-0 (1w); Ashraf 7-1-16-2; S Khan 8.4-0-28-4; Malik 6-0-19-1.