PALLEKELE: Pakistan were set a Duckworth/Lewis victory target of 162 off 38 overs after rain interrupted play twice in their World Cup Group A match against Zimbabwe here at the Pallekele International Stadium on Monday.The rain interrupted the match for the first time in the 28th over when Zimbabwe were reeling at 96 for five and the match was reduced to 43 overs a side when the play was resumed after 90 minutes.It came again in the 40th over of the Africans' innings with the score on 151-7.Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura won the toss and batted on a slow wicket but lost Brendan Taylor, Regis Chakabva and Vusi Sibanda in quick succession to be 13-3 before Craig Ervine helped stop the rot.Ervine was bowled by Mohammad Hafeez for 52 when the play was resumed after the first interruption. Then, Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya added 48 runs for the seventh wicket before Utseya was dismissed by Umar Gul caught behind for 18 and rain interrupted for the second time. Chigumbura remained unbeaten on 32.For Pakistan, Umar Gul was the most successful bowler with three for 36. This is the second World Cup match to be affected by rain after Sri Lanka's showdown with Australia was washed out in Colombo earlier this month.
