Wahab Riaz became the first Pakistan international to score a half-century and take four wickets in a World Cup match, helping his country get off the mark in Pool B at the third atempt with a 20-run victory over Zimbabwe at the Gabba in Brisbane.
The 29-year-old propelled Pakistan to 235 for seven with 54 off 46 balls after Misbah-ul-Haq, who made 73, had rescued his side from 127 for five.
Riaz and Mohammad Irfan then snared four scalps, the former also running out Tinashe Panyangara, as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 215 in the final over.
Pakistan were in trouble at four for two having decided to make first use, Tendai Chatara having both Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad caught.
But Misbah, a calming presence as ever, steadied the ship with stands of 54 and 69 with Haris Sohail and Umar Akmal, who made 27 and 33 respectively.
When the latter and Shahid Afridi, celebrating his 35th birthday today, were bowled by Sean Williams in the 34th over, Pakistan were in trouble
Misbah was charged with the task of rebuilding again, playing cautiously as Sohaib Maqsood struck 21 off 17 balls at the other end.
Maqsood’s dismissal, caught and bowled by Tawanda Mupariwa, brought Misbah and Riaz together and the pair added impetus with an alliance of 47 in 7.5 overs.
Misbah, with only three fours in his 121-ball knock, became Chatara’s third scalp before Riaz smashed six fours and a maximum to boost Pakistan, who took 73 off the final 10 overs.
Zimbabwe also suffered a poor start, losing Chamu Chibhabha and Sikandar Raza to Irfan cheaply.
The experienced Brendan Taylor then played the Misbah role in two half-century partnerships, with Hamilton Masakadza and Sean Williams, doubling the amount of boundaries his opposite number collected.
After the pressure made Masakadza throw his start of 29 from 54 balls away, with Irfan collecting his third scalp, Taylor tickled Riaz down the leg side three deliveries after raising his bat for fifty.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Zimbabwe were still in the hunt when Elton Chigumbura, who was injured in the field, came out to bat for the final 13 overs with 70 needed.
He took responsibility in a ninth-wicket stand of 47 with Panyangara, hitting a run-a-ball 35, but 24 from the final over proved too much.
Chigumbura was last man out, providing Umar with his fifth catch as Riaz completed figures of 4-45, conceding 15 more runs than Irfan.