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PAK beat ZIM by 7 wickets | Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, Highlights And Cricket Score 4th T20 Match - Commentary
T20I Tri-Series in Zimbabwe, 2018
Date: Jul 04, 2018 Start Time: 13:30 IST | 08:00 GMT | 10:00 LocalVenue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
RCB
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Zimbabwe vs Pakistan Highlights And Cricket Score 4th Match - T20 Commentary
Pakistan, Sarfraz Ahmed particularly, would be disappointed with their efforts with the ball and more with how they did in the field. Some sloppy work gave runs away and there were a couple of dropped chances as well. The bowlers couldn't stamp their authority on what has been a dwindling Zimbabwe batting line-up. The performance wasn't bad as such, but given their quality, they'd feel that for sure. Now, the target in front of them won't be an easy one to chase for sure. The second half should be an interesting one. Don't go anywhere, it'll begin shortly...
The hosts have a fighting total on the board courtesy a Solomon Mire masterclass. Zimbabwe, being put into bat, started off well as Zhuwao and Mire gave them a solid start. The former departed, but the latter held one end and kept the runs coming. Stitched good stands, first with his skipper Hamilton, and then went on to add 64 with Musakanda, who himself played a useful cameo. Zimbabwe crossed the 160-mark, but Mire fell 6 short of what would have been a well-deserved ton.
Mohammad Amir to Elton Chigumbura. Length ball moving away from around off, Chigumbura punches it through the covers and takes a single. ZIMBABWE FINISH ON 162/4!
Malcolm Waller to bat next.
Mohammad Amir to Tarisai Musakanda. OUT! Musakanda holes out! Full on the stumps, he clears his front leg trying to clear long on. Doesn't exactly get underneath it, so hits it straight down the throat of the experienced veteran Shoaib Malik. He takes it safely in his hands and dismisses Tarisai. A good cameo from him ends.
Mohammad Amir to Tarisai Musakanda. Not the shot you want to be playing at this stage, Tarisai. Dot balls are crucial now. Amir spears it fuller outside off, Musakanda looks to bring out the reverse sweep but misses.
Mohammad Amir to Tarisai Musakanda. Outside off, played well through backward point. Two good runs taken.
Mohammad Amir to Tarisai Musakanda. FOUR! Streaky runs but they're all the same for the home side. Shortish ball around off, Musakanda swings across the line and gets a thick edge over third man. Clears the man well inside the rope and goes across the fence on a few bounces.
Mohammad Amir to Elton Chigumbura. Full ball attacking the stumps, flicked through the mid-wicket region for an easy single.
Mohammad Amir called back into the attack.
Hussain Talat to Elton Chigumbura. Drilled down the ground to long off for one run. A successful over from Talat comes to an end.
Hussain Talat to Elton Chigumbura. Wide! Banged in short but it's too short from Talat, Chigumbura looks to ramp it across the third man fence but misses. Wide called.
Hussain Talat to Elton Chigumbura. On the shorter side of the length, outside off, Chigumbura smacks it through the gap in the covers and gets a brace for doing so.
Hussain Talat to Tarisai Musakanda. Punched off the back foot by the batsman down to long off. Single taken.
Hussain Talat to Tarisai Musakanda. Wide! Down the leg side, wide signalled by the umpire.
Hussain Talat to Tarisai Musakanda. Back of a length close to off, Musakanda lofts it over extra cover and takes two.
Elton Chigumbura walks into the middle next.
Hussain Talat to Solomon Mire. OUT! Gone this time. Shadab manages to hold on. That dropped chance hasn't cost Pakistan much. Mire misses out on a ton, but he did what he had to. Departs having scored Zimbabwe's highest individual score in this format. Short ball banged in, Mire pulls this over mid-wicket. Not enough power on it and it's taken well by the leggie coming in from the deep. Mire is gone on 94.
Hussain Talat to Solomon Mire. The move almost paid off! Oh dear. Talat bowls a full toss on the stumps, Mire swings and gets a big, big top edge. It goes high in the air towards square, where Asif Ali comes running in from the deep. Settles under it, but fluffs it horribly. Two runs taken. Sarfraz is not a happy man clearly.
Hussain Talat into the bowling attack. Strange or bold move? Remains to be seen.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. Lofted over wide mid on, towards the man in the deep on a bounce. Single taken.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. This is good running. Mire drills it to long on and sets off for the first run hard. A bit dangerous but he calls for the second and gets to the other end. His partner responded well too. Nicely done.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. Fires a yorker outside off, Mire tries to bludgeon it down the ground but fails to make connection.
Hasan Ali to Tarisai Musakanda. Shortens his length a bit now, it's swung across the line in front of square leg for a run.
Hasan Ali to Tarisai Musakanda. FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Musakanda. This is superb batting. Full again, fraction straighter in line, Musakanda clears his front leg and once again, staying steady, he whacks it straight back down the ground to find the fence.
Hasan Ali to Tarisai Musakanda. FOUR! Hasan Ali welcomed with a boundary yet again. Extremely full, on off, Musakanda stays leg side, keeps his head straight and smacks it through the left of wide mid off for a boundary. Better from him.
Hasan Ali will roll his arm over again.
Faheem Ashraf to Tarisai Musakanda. Tarisai drives this fuller length ball through to long on and retains strike. The 50-run stand is up with this. Handy partnership for Zimbabwe.
Faheem Ashraf to Tarisai Musakanda. Fullish in length and outside the line of off stump, a swipe from the batsman which misses.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. Not sure if this is needed from Mire. He can hit 'em well enough in front of the stumps. He moves across his sticks to play the scoop shot, ends up getting it off the edge onto his body. Single taken as the ball falls on the off side.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. Big swing and a miss! Fuller and swinging back in, Mire stays firm and swings wildly in an attempt to clear the leg side boundary. Makes no connection though as it goes past the inner edge and the leg pole.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. Another length delivery from the bowler, this time Mire stays inside the crease and blocks it out.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. On a length on middle and off, shaping back in, it's tucked through backward square leg. Big gap out there, so the batsmen are comfortably able to take two.
Faheem Ashraf is brought back into the attack.
Mohammad Amir to Solomon Mire. Stump-to-stump line from Amir this time. Much better from him as he keeps it full. Mire drives it to mid off and can only manage a single. 10 off the over. Good one for the hosts.
For a second time in this innings, a different ball has been called for. Both times when Solomon Mire has knocked it out of the park.
Mohammad Amir to Solomon Mire. SIX! That's outta here! Right out of the screws from Solomon Mire. Whoa! Massive, massive blow. Another slower one from Amir but he's bowled it short. Cannot do that against Mire as he's so strong with those. He stands tall and powers it onto the roof and out of the stadium over square leg. Monstrous hit.
Mohammad Amir to Tarisai Musakanda. Amir takes the pace off this one and it kind of foxes Musakanda. He swings his bat too early and the ball flies off the edge down to third man on a couple of bounces. One run taken.
Mohammad Amir to Tarisai Musakanda. Outside off, slanting away, Musakanda plays and misses.
Mohammad Amir to Solomon Mire. Almost a yorker from Amir. Just outside off. Mire digs it out powerfully back down the track, but much to his dismay, it hits the stumps at the other end. A single is taken eventually as the ball ricochets towards long off, but it could have been a boundary instead. Unlucky.
Mohammad Amir to Tarisai Musakanda. Closes the face of the bat and works it through mid-wicket for one run.
Mohammad Amir is back.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Flighted delivery on leg stump, Solomon is down to play the reverse sweep, and misses as it goes off his pads on the leg side.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Follows him as he tries to make room, Mire still manages to force it through the covers with his power. Two taken as the man in the deep mops it up.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Darted full and flat on middle and leg, dug out by bringing his bat down in time.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Drifting in, keeps coming in with the angle, Mire hangs his bat out in defense thinking it will turn, but it goes past his inside edge, past the leg stump into the keeper's gloves.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. SIX! No stopping him today, is there? He's hitting the ball with so much ease. Teeing off now. Full, loopy and right in the slot, Solomon Mire plants his front foot forward and smokes it deep into the long on stands for half a dozen.
Mohammad Nawaz to Tarisai Musakanda. Plays this with the spin and runs it down to third man for one. Brings Mire back on strike.
Mohammad Nawaz returns to the attack.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. That's in the air but lands safe. Length ball kicking off the surface, Mire lofts it off the outer half, with not much control, over point. Clears the infield and picks up two runs for it.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. Bumper this time, another occasion on which Hasan Ali hits the deck hard. Mire ducks and evades.
Hasan Ali to Tarisai Musakanda. Short of a good length, Hasan hits the deck hard, Musakanda punches it firmly down the ground, towards long on for a run.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. Driven through mid off by the batsman. They pick up a single.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. Just behind a length, on the stumps, heaved away through mid-wicket. There are two men out in the deep, so the batsmen only take two.
Hasan Ali to Tarisai Musakanda. Fullish in length and quite close to off, Musakanda leans forward and across before pushing it through to long on for a run.
Hasan Ali back on.
Faheem Ashraf to Tarisai Musakanda. Pushed away nicely past the bowler, through mid off for a single.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. Length delivery around off, skids off the deck a bit too and angles in as Mire looks to put bat on ball. Gets an inside edge onto his pads and then the ball rolls away behind on the off side. Single taken.
Faheem Ashraf to Tarisai Musakanda. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. One run added to the total.
Faheem Ashraf to Tarisai Musakanda. Forces this back of a length delivery through the vacant spaces in the cover region and comes back for the second.
Faheem Ashraf to Tarisai Musakanda. FOUR! Back of a length delivery in line of the stumps, Musakanda swivels to get inside the line and then pulls it with aplomb across the mid-wicket fence.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. Safe! Comfortably too. Mire taps this towards point and calls for the run. The fielder quickly gets to the ball and scores a direct hit at the bowler's end, as Solomon drags his bat in. It's taken upstairs and replays show that he's in with no problem.
Direct hit! Mire the man in the limelight. Let's see now...
Faheem Ashraf to have a go with the ball again.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. The batsman plays the pull shot. They pick up a single.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. FOUR! Where does he manage to generate such power from? Superb. Short and outside off, Solomon Mire wastes no time in going back and muscles this through the cover area, beating the two men out in the deep.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. FOUR! Stupendous hit! Short from the leggie, Mire instantly rocks back and pulls it with a lot of might through the mid-wicket region for a boundary.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. Well outside off, left alone by Mire.
Shadab Khan to Tarisai Musakanda. Leans ahead and knocks it through mid on for one. Musakanda is off the mark.
Tarisai Musakanda is the new man in.
Shadab Khan to Hamilton Masakadza. OUT! Bowled 'em! Shadab gets rid of the Zimbabwean skipper. Masakadza had no clue about that. The googly from Shadab, Hamilton comes forward to play at it and doesn't read it at all. Right through the gap between bat and pad and the leg stump has been disturbed. Pakistan pick up their second wicket.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Shout for a leg before, but that's never going to be given. Quicker through the air from Nawaz, but it's shorter in length, catches Mire too high on the thigh pad so the umpire never shows interest in the appeal.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Stays back and keeps it out with a straight blade.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Drifting in on leg, it goes off Mire's pads as he attempts to work it on the leg side.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. FOUR! Shot. He's cutting loose properly now. Short and wide outside off, Mire looking at the width immediately cuts this hard. Cracks it through point and finds the fence with ease.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. SIX! And that's fifty for Solomon Mire! His first in this format. Superb way to bring it up. This is a bit slower through the air, on middle and leg with a lot of flight. Mire throws his front leg out of the way and smokes it high and handsome over long on for a biggie.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Short and fast outside off, played back to the bowler from within the crease.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. Floated on the stumps, lofted towards long off for one. 72/1 at the halfway mark!
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. SIX! Banged short in line of the stumps, Mire camps back and pulls it way over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. WIDE! Tossed up well outside off, Mire lets it be.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. Flatter outside off, Mire looks to cut but misses.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. HE IS SAFE! Hamilton Masakadza. Mire flicks this through square leg and wants two immediately. The fielder in the deep gets to the ball quickly and fires a throw to the bowler. Shadab collects the ball and disturbs the stumps, even as Masakadza stretches to make it in. The appeal is taken upstairs. Replays find that he has managed to drag his bat in.
A run out appeal against Hamilton Masakadza is referred upstairs. Looks close, but think he might be safe.
A change of balls. Solomon Mire hit that so big that the ball was lost. The umpire had to call for a new one.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. SIX! Beautifully struck! Tossed up ball in line of the stumps, Mire clears his front leg and smites it high over long on.
Shadab Khan to Hamilton Masakadza. Flighted outside off, driven nicely through covers for one.
Shadab Khan has a change of ends.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Guides this down to short third man with the spin. Straight to the fielder so it's a dot ball.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Tossed up from Nawaz, blocked off the front foot by the batsman.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. FOUR! That went to the fence in a flash! Superb stuff from Solomon Mire. Looped up, on the stumps, right in the slot and Mire needs no second invitation to put this away. Clears his front leg and hammers it straight back past the diving bowler for a boundary.
Mohammad Nawaz to Hamilton Masakadza. On the shorter side once more, Masakadza turns it in front of square on the leg side and crosses over.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Goes back to this short one, deep in the crease and then offers a solid punch to long on for a single.
Mohammad Nawaz to Solomon Mire. Short and flat around off, punched off the back foot towards covers.
Mohammad Nawaz comes on to roll his arm over.
Faheem Ashraf to Hamilton Masakadza. Outside off on a length, Masakadza looks to guide it towards third man but gets beaten.
Faheem Ashraf to Hamilton Masakadza. On a length around off, Masakadza defends it from the crease.
Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza walks in at the fall of the first wicket.
Faheem Ashraf to Cephas Zhuwao. OUT! Castled! Faheem Ashraf provides his skipper the much-needed breakthrough. He lands it full around leg, Zhuwao backs away to hit it through the on side. Misses the ball completely, only to find his leg stump uprooted. An impatient knock from the southpaw comes to an end. This was an innings full of many attempted strokes yet very little to show in the end. The opening stand for Zimbabwe ends one short of a half ton.
Faheem Ashraf to Cephas Zhuwao. Short ball around leg, Cephas looks to pull. Misses and the ball raps him on the unmentionable area. He crouches low in pain, but looks good to carry on.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. This ball is punched off the back foot through covers for one.
Faheem Ashraf to Cephas Zhuwao. On a length around leg, Zhuwao backs away and pushes it towards covers for one.
Shadab Khan to Solomon Mire. This ball is punched off the back foot towards covers. An excellent beginning from Shadab.
Shadab Khan to Cephas Zhuwao. Finally a run! Flatter on the pads, worked away through square leg for one.
Shadab Khan to Cephas Zhuwao. The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball but fails. This has now happened four times in a row.
Shadab Khan to Cephas Zhuwao. Another wrong 'un floated outside off, Zhuwao looks to push it down the ground but misses.
Shadab Khan to Cephas Zhuwao. Googly outside off, Cephas looks to smash it but misses.
Shadab Khan to Cephas Zhuwao. Khan tosses it up outside off, Zhuwao attempts the sweep but misses.
Shadab Khan to roll his arm over now.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. SIX! Banged! Short in length around off, Mire swivels and pulls it. Makes a wonderful contact and the ball sails well over the deep backward square leg fence.
Faheem Ashraf to Cephas Zhuwao. That ball has taken the inside edge onto the pads. One run added to the total.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. This one is pulled to the on side in front of square. The fielder from mid-wicket, Sohail, gets there and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. The single is completed with ease. Rameez Raja on air states that the Pakistan fielders are standing at the edge of the circle. My colleague pings me that the Aussies were constantly charging in, thereby reducing the opportunities to run singles. Thus, the Asian team seems to be a bit defensive so far.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. The batsman defends it from within the crease.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. On a length outside off, Mire looks to pull it across the line but misses.
Faheem Ashraf to Solomon Mire. On a length around off, pulled away on the bounce to mid-wicket.
Faheem Ashraf is introduced into the attack.
Hasan Ali to Cephas Zhuwao. Full and outside off, Zhuwao misses yet again after having a slash.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. This one is flicked away through square leg for one.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. The batsman fails to put bat on ball.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. Misfield from Shadab at backward point! Mire pushes it there from the crease, but the fielder lets it through. Asif Ali gets to his right from third man, but doesn't pick the ball up on a go. Thus, another couple is possible, not pleasing the Pakistan captain.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. This one is pulled away through backward square leg for a brace.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. FOUR! Smoked! Ali lands it full outside off, Mire stands and goes through with the smack down the ground. Hits it aerially but well away from mid on. Although Sarfraz screams from behind the stumps that the fielder should catch that, it was well away from him.
Mohammad Amir to Cephas Zhuwao. Beautifully bowled. Amir saw Zhuwao make room and speared a fast yorker in line of the stumps. Cephas did well to dig it out to the off side for nothing.
Mohammad Amir to Solomon Mire. Outside off on a length, dabbed towards third man for one.
Mohammad Amir to Solomon Mire. Almost! Full on middle and leg, hit aerially from the crease towards mid on. It landed well short of the man there. It was almost an action replay of the way he was dismissed in the previous games against the Aussies.
Mohammad Amir to Solomon Mire. Ouch! That might have hurt! Short ball around middle and leg, Mire fails in his attempted pull and takes a blow to his thigh pad.
Mohammad Amir to Solomon Mire. EDGED AND FOUR! Where's the slip, Sarfraz? This is angled away on a length, Mire looks to guide it towards third man. Although he wouldn't mind the result now, he never intended to get it so fine. The outside edge was taken and the ball raced away to the third man fence.
Mohammad Amir to Solomon Mire. On a length around middle and off, Mire lets it come to him and bunts it from the crease.
Hasan Ali to Solomon Mire. Fuller on the pads, Mire misses the flick. The ball goes off his pads towards backward square leg. Zhuwao calls for the run and Mire responds. A leg bye it is.
Hasan Ali to Cephas Zhuwao. On the pads, flicked away through mid-wicket for one.
Hasan Ali to Cephas Zhuwao. FOUR! Streaky yet effective! Full and angling away, Zhuwao looks to smash it through the on side. The ball takes the inside edge and just goes close past the leg stump and through to the fine leg fence.
Hasan Ali to Cephas Zhuwao. Zhuwao seems to get restless pretty quickly. He has a wild swing at this full length ball outside off, only to miss it completely.
Hasan Ali to Cephas Zhuwao. Short in length, pulled straight to mid-wicket.
Hasan Ali to Cephas Zhuwao. FOUR! What a welcome for Hasan Ali! Fuller in length around middle and leg, Zhuwao gets his front foot out of the way and smashes it back down. It passes just past the bowler and beats mid on easily.
Hasan Ali to have a go now. Perhaps Malik's expensive first over mooted this move.
Mohammad Amir to Cephas Zhuwao. Finally a run for Cephas. Works this length ball to the on side to retain strike. Just 2 off this one.
Mohammad Amir to Cephas Zhuwao. Fuller and outside off, pushed from the crease towards covers. Another dot.
Mohammad Amir to Cephas Zhuwao. Another swish and a miss! Zhuwao seems to be getting restless. He looks to have a go at another length ball outside off. Misses the ball completely. Three dots in a row.
Mohammad Amir to Cephas Zhuwao. Length ball in line of the stumps, Zhuwao looks to flick it but misses and wears it high on the thigh pad.
Mohammad Amir to Cephas Zhuwao. No footwork! Landing on a length outside off, Zhuwao stays put in the crease and has a feel for it. Misses.
Mohammad Amir to Solomon Mire. Length ball angling away, Mire slashes at it. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards third man for one.
Mohammad Amir to bowl from the other end.
Shoaib Malik to Cephas Zhuwao. FOUR! Lovely way to end the over. Tossed up outside off, Zhuwao goes inside out through covers and gets a boundary. 12 off the opening over for Zimbabwe, 10 off the last three balls.
Shoaib Malik to Cephas Zhuwao. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Shoaib Malik to Cephas Zhuwao. SIX! Boom! This time Zhuwao connects alright. Slower through the air around middle, he kneels down and slogs it high and handsome over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen. Wonderful way to open the boundary count.
Shoaib Malik to Cephas Zhuwao. Huge appeal right away! Not given, though. Tossed up around middle and leg, Zhuwao looks to belt it over mid-wicket but misses. The ball hits him on the back pad and an appeal ensues. Turned down, perhaps because it is sliding down leg.
Shoaib Malik to Solomon Mire. Floated from round the stumps, Mire flicks it towards mid-wicket and gets to the other end. He too, opens his account.
Shoaib Malik to Cephas Zhuwao. Flatter one on the pads, Zhuwao works it towards square leg and sets off for a run. The man from mid-wicket takes just that extra bit of time to get across and return the throw to Sarfraz, which doesn't please the Pakistan skipper. Zimbabwe and Cephas get off the mark.
Blue skies and sunny conditions welcome the players onto the ground. But the players observe a minute of silence to mourn the passing away of the wife of former South African cricketer, Gary Brent. Cephas Zhuwao and Solomon Mire walk out to bat, hoping to get the home side off to a flier. The Men in Green have spread out all over the field, in readiness for play to commence. Shoaib Malik will have a go with the new ball, from round the wicket. Here we go...
Hamilton Masakadza, the Zimbabwe captain, says that he expects the track to be dry and doesn't mind batting first. States that they were pretty ordinary in the last game and would look to correct the mistakes. Adds that the guys are raring to go and are all set.
Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, reasons that they want to make use of the conditions early on. States that they will look to forget about the last game against Australia and look to turn up afresh.
Dirk Vijleon does the PITCH REPORT. He says that the track is the same as the last game. Reckons that not much damage has been done, thereby stating that it is a good hard pitch. Adds that there is not too much grass but a few cracks opening up. States that it is important for the bowlers to land the cherry in the right areas.
TEAM CHANGES - For Pakistan, Mohammad Amir plays and so does Haris Sohail. Mohammad Hafeez and Usman Khan make way for them. Cephas Zhuwao, Malcolm Waller and Wellington Masakadza come to the playing XI in place of Chamu Chibhabha, Ryan Burl and John Nyumbu for Zimbabwe. Well, the hosts may well hope that the team changes help them change the result as well.
TOSS - The coin lands in favour of the touring side. PAKISTAN OPT TO CHASE!
Pakistan have seldom put a false foot in the shortest format in recent times, with their previous outing against the Aussies not going their way after 8 straight T20I wins. They will quickly look to shrug off that game out of their memories, by attempting to inflict another heavy defeat on the hosts. Is that the script for the day? Remember, this is the second leg of this series. We'll find out soon. Hold on for a while.
Often when you're pushed back to the wall, the urge to fight back and retaliate in full force is greater. Zimbabwe have always been the perennial underdogs in the cricketing world. With two heavy defeats, they just asserted that tag. Till recently, they were lauded for their competing efforts, but with most of their 'known' personnel missing out, they have been largely pedestrian to say the least. With another hope of this being a thrilling clash, here's a warm welcome to y'all for the 4th game of the T20I tri-series featuring Australia and Pakistan, apart from the hosts, in Harare.
Right! We are done and dusted with this. Zimbabwe are effectively out of the running to make it to the final as they don't have a single point on the board after three games. So, Pakistan and Australia will face off for the trophy. But, before that, they will take on each other on 5th July in the 5th game of the tri-series. It begins at 1000 local (0800 GMT). Do join in for that. Cheers!
Sarfraz Ahmed, the winning captain, sounds very unhappy with Pakistan's bowling performance. He states that since his batters gave them a good start, they could overhaul the target. Says that the upcoming game against Australia is a dress rehearsal before the finals, in which they'll look to do well.
Hamilton Masakadza, the losing skipper, is happy with the fight shown by his team mates, although they lost the game. States that they ended up 15-20 runs short and also opines that their fielding let them down. Feels hopeful of doing better in the coming game. Opines that since they don't get many international games, they need to do well in whatever opportunities that they get.
Solomon Mire is adjudged the Man of the Match for his knock of 94. He says that it was a good day for him and hence the shots came off. Concedes that the gameplan for them was that at least one in the top three need to stay long and take the game deep. States that he had been struggling for a while in recent times with the ball and hence is good to get a few overs under his belt.
Zimbabwe needed wickets to win this game. Mire and Musakanda gave them a fighting chance with the total they had on the board, but the bowlers couldn't back it up. The Powerplay more or less ended it for them, because post that, the Pakistan batsmen never needed to take any risks and went about their business without any trouble. Also, the captaincy maybe lack some aggression, as Pakistan were allowed to rotate strike without any pressure. It was an improved performance from them, but just wasn't enough. Plenty to still work on obviously.
A comfortable enough victory for the Men in Green. Had 5 balls to spare. It all began with the start Zaman and Sohail provided them. That pretty much put the visiting side in pole position to win this game as the asking rate was always in control after that and the batsmen to follow had their jobs made easy for them. Solid partnerships from the middle order, which included the likes of Talat, Sarfraz and Malik, saw the match through with utmost ease.
Chris Mpofu to Sarfraz Ahmed. FOUR! And that's the game. PAKISTAN WIN BY 7 WICKETS! Easily done by the Pakistan skipper. Length delivery around off, Sarfraz cuts it late as he plays it down to third man. Beats the keeper and short third man, finding the fence with ease.
Blessing Muzarabani to Shoaib Malik. Tried to finish it off with a boundary. Length ball around off, Malik looks to loft it over the off side but can't connect.
Blessing Muzarabani to Sarfraz Ahmed. Taps it away on the off side with gentle hands and collects a quick single.
Blessing Muzarabani to Sarfraz Ahmed. FOUR! Shot. Full delivery outside the line of off stump, Sarfraz lofts it over covers and sends it across the rope for a boundary.
Blessing Muzarabani to Sarfraz Ahmed. Some sloppy work and a faint chance of a run out - that's what! Sarfraz drives it down to long on and takes a single. The throw comes in to Blessing who misfields and seeing this, the batsmen decide to steal another run. The keeper collects the ball and throws it to the bowler, who takes the bails off. Shoaib Malik, however, made it back in with ease.
There's a bit of confusion. What happened there?
Blessing Muzarabani to Sarfraz Ahmed. Fired in full on off stump, Sarfraz digs it out towards mid-wicket. In the gap and some quick running enables the batsmen to two a couple of runs.
Blessing Muzarabani to Shoaib Malik. Full toss outside off, Malik walks down the track and flicks it towards square leg. Chisoro stationed there misfields which allows the batsmen to change ends.
Chris Mpofu to Shoaib Malik. Cuts this away nicely through point and gets a single. 14 needed off 12 balls.
Chris Mpofu to Shoaib Malik. FOUR! Terrific shot! Shoaib Malik dances down the track to this length delivery and goes across the line. Over mid-wicket and he bisects the gap between the two men in the deep. Boundary results.
Chris Mpofu to Shoaib Malik. Good running between the wickets. Malik pushes this towards long on and takes the fielder on. Beats him too as he comes back for the second in a jiffy.
Chris Mpofu to Shoaib Malik. FOUR! Wastes no time to get going. Off the mark with a boundary. Short ball, Malik makes room and slaps this towards third man. Hits it square enough to beat the fielder and get it across the rope.
Shoaib Malik is the new man in.
Chris Mpofu to Hussain Talat. OUT! Got 'em! Seems this was the plan all along. It's worked, albeit after conceding two extra runs. Full and wide again outside off, Talat goes after it this time and gets it off the outer half. it goes flies towards point where Zhuwao moves a little to his right and takes a sharp catch. A good knock from Talat comes to an end, he's done the job for his side, even if he's missed out on his fifty.
Chris Mpofu to Hussain Talat. Wide! Similar delivery, outside off and across the tramline, wide signalled.
Chris Mpofu to Hussain Talat. Wide! Comes from around the wicket and darts it too far outside off. Wide signalled.
Chris Mpofu to Sarfraz Ahmed. Length delivery outside off, punched from within the crease through to sweeper cover for one.
Chris Mpofu back on.
Blessing Muzarabani to Hussain Talat. Length ball going across, Talat swings and there's a noise as the ball goes behind. The keeper appeals, but the bowler doesn't seem as interested. Dot ball to end the over.
Blessing Muzarabani to Hussain Talat. Fuller around off, Talat throws the kitchen sink at it, only to get a thick edge down to third man. A double is collected.
Blessing Muzarabani to Sarfraz Ahmed. Shortish in length, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Blessing Muzarabani to Sarfraz Ahmed. It keeps a little low as Blessing bowls the off cutter on a back of a length, which is it takes the inner edge onto the pads as Sarfraz looks to swing across the line. He wanted the run, but was sent back by Talat. For some reason, he's annoyed with Hussain. Not sure why, because the run was never on.
Blessing Muzarabani to Sarfraz Ahmed. Brings out the short one and bangs it in short, Sarfraz attempts to play the ramp shot but fails to make connection.
Blessing Muzarabani to Hussain Talat. Speared full, well outside off, Talat gets low, opens the face and squeezes it out to third man for a run.
Blessing Muzarabani into the attack once more.
Tendai Chisoro to Hussain Talat. Full ball, lofted towards long on on a couple of bounce for a single. 32 needed in 24.
Tendai Chisoro to Hussain Talat. Floated delivery close to the off stick, Talat lofts it down long on. Sarfraz takes off quickly for the first, calls for the second and makes sure Hussain responds fast. Good running.
Tendai Chisoro to Hussain Talat. Good stop from Hamilton once again. Talat comes forward to this tossed up ball outside off and drills it to the covers. The skipper there moves swiftly to his right, slides and makes an excellent stop.
Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. Places this square through point and gets to the other end.
Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. FOUR! There's the deft touch again. Nicely done. Outside off, with some turn and bounce, Sarfraz Ahmed waits for it, plays it late with a slightly open face and gets it past short third man. Once that happened, the ball was always going to win the race.
Tendai Chisoro to Hussain Talat. The batsman plays the pull shot. They pick up a single.
Tendai Chisoro called back on to bowl.
Wellington Masakadza to Sarfraz Ahmed. Full and outside off, Sarfraz fails to connect with the cover drive.
Wellington Masakadza to Sarfraz Ahmed. FOUR! Deft! Cleverly done. Spinning away from around off, Ahmed plays it late and dabs it past the keeper, across the third man fence for a boundary.
Wellington Masakadza to Hussain Talat. Controls the pull behind square leg and takes one.
Wellington Masakadza to Sarfraz Ahmed. Dropped! But that's just a technicality. Too harsh to call it a dropped. Stunning effort from the Zimbabwean captain. Sarfraz comes ahead and drives it in the air towards extra cover. Hamilton there dives full stretch to his left, gets a hand to it but can't hold on. Saves a certain boundary for his side for sure. Single taken.
Wellington Masakadza to Sarfraz Ahmed. A fumble from Mire allows the batsmen to take an extra run. Sarfraz works it through mid-wicket and takes one. Solomon fumbles while picking it up and hence the batsmen come back for the second.
Wellington Masakadza to Sarfraz Ahmed. FOUR! Another boundary. This is good batting from the Pakistan skipper. Sees the flight on the ball and that it's landing full, Sarfraz kneels down and sweeps it behind square leg, beating the man in the deep.
Wellington Masakadza called back into the attack.
Solomon Mire to Hussain Talat. Hussain Talat works this with soft hands through mid-wicket. Big gap out there, smart work, will get two by the time the man in the deep gets to the ball.
Solomon Mire to Sarfraz Ahmed. Chance of a run out! Had he hit, would have been real close. Sarfraz drops it down in front of point and takes off. The fielder rushes to the ball quickly and fires a throw at the striker's end but misses. Wasn't too far away though.
Solomon Mire to Sarfraz Ahmed. FOUR! Well, guess that answers why. Good call at the end it seems. Length delivery from the bowler, Sarfraz goes across the line and lofts it over mid-wicket to find the fence.
Solomon Mire to Hussain Talat. That was in the air for a long while but fell short. Talat made room and lofted the full ball outside off over point. Didn't connect well at all, but luckily for him it fell in no man's land. Just a single was taken though, for some strange reason. Seems it was Sarfraz's call.
Solomon Mire to Sarfraz Ahmed. Fraction straight in line, nudged fine down the leg side for a run.
Solomon Mire to Sarfraz Ahmed. Wide! Mire comes steaming in and darts it too far outside off, Sarfraz tries to connect but fails to do so. It's across the other side of the tramline so the umpire signals a wide.
Solomon Mire to Hussain Talat. Fuller in length, in line of the stumps, flicked away in the gap on the leg side for a single. The 100 comes up for Pakistan.
Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. Short and wide outside off, cut square towards point to end the over.
Tendai Chisoro to Hussain Talat. Slightly quicker through the air and attacking the stumps, drilled down to long on for one more.
Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. The skipper is off the mark here. Sarfraz comes forward and knocks it down to long on for one run.
Tendai Chisoro to Hussain Talat. Around off, Talat without much foot movement pushes this through the covers and gets to the other end.
Tendai Chisoro to Hussain Talat. Slower through the air, around off, Hussain taps this just beside him with soft hands.
Tendai Chisoro to Hussain Talat. From around the wicket, it's floated on the stumps, Talat blocks with a straight blade.
Tendai Chisoro will bowl again.
Solomon Mire to Hussain Talat. The batsman opens the face of the bat and helps it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single. End of a good over from Mire.
Solomon Mire to Hussain Talat. Stays inside his crease and keeps it out rather safely.
Sarfraz Ahmed makes his way to the middle next.
Solomon Mire to Fakhar Zaman. OUT! Solomon Mire can do no wrong today! Could this be the turning point in this game? The moment which could fire Zimbabwe up? Fuller in length on the stumps, Zaman looks to clear long on but doesn't connect well at all. Skies it in the mid on region where Mpofu comes running from mid off. Mire was going back himself but Chris was there first. Settled under the ball well and took a very good catch. The dangerous southpaw departs just shy of his fifty. Pakistan need 68 to win off 50 balls.
Solomon Mire to Fakhar Zaman. Back of a length moving across, outside off, Zaman works it towards point and wants a run. Takes off but is sent back in time as the fielder got to the ball rather quickly.
Solomon Mire to Hussain Talat. Opens the face of the bat, dabs this square on the off side and takes a single.
Solomon Mire to Hussain Talat. Good length delivery on middle and leg, Talat easily picks it up and places it through square leg. The fielder in the deep cuts it off and keeps the batsmen down to two.
Solomon Mire comes on to bowl. Did extremely well with the bat, can he replicate something similar with the ball?
Wellington Masakadza to Fakhar Zaman. Flatter around middle and leg, Zaman made room to play it through the off side, but was cramped for room. Ends up pushing it down the track.
Wellington Masakadza to Hussain Talat. Hussain lets it come to him and directs it towards square leg for a single.
Wellington Masakadza to Hussain Talat. Another couple, this time after flicking it through square leg.
Wellington Masakadza to Hussain Talat. Two, two, two, shouts Talat as soon as he lofts this one towards wide long on. Before Mire gets to his left and fires the throw, a couple is taken.
Wellington Masakadza to Fakhar Zaman. Loopy outside off, a single milked down to long off.
Wellington Masakadza to Hussain Talat. Slower through the air on the pads, Talat plays it with soft hands towards square leg for one.
Malcolm Waller to Hussain Talat. This one is turned through square leg for another single.
Malcolm Waller to Hussain Talat. SIX! Short, punished. Waller bowls a half-tracker around leg, sliding down. Talat kneels and pulls it over backward square leg for a maximum.
Malcolm Waller to Hussain Talat. Third couple on the trot. This one is whipped through mid-wicket for another two. The running has been good between these two.
Malcolm Waller to Hussain Talat. Good effort in the deep. This one is lofted over wide mid off. The man from long off gets to his right and keeps it in play. A couple results.
Malcolm Waller to Hussain Talat. Tossed up outside off, lofted over covers for a brace.
Malcolm Waller to Fakhar Zaman. Flatter in trajectory in line of the stumps, FZ works it through mid-wicket for one. He moves to 4 runs short of a fifty.
Wellington Masakadza to Fakhar Zaman. Short in length, pulled away through mid-wicket for one. 92 more needed off 66.
Wellington Masakadza to Fakhar Zaman. Delivered wide from the crease, Masakadza fires it wide outside off seeing Zaman bakc away. The southpaw fails to reach it.
Wellington Masakadza to Hussain Talat. Floated around middle, flicked away through mid-wicket for one.
Wellington Masakadza to Hussain Talat. Poor work! This delivery is pulled through backward square leg. With Zhuwao in the deep, it should've been just one. But he lets it through and concedes another one.
Wellington Masakadza to Fakhar Zaman. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Wellington Masakadza to Hussain Talat. On the pads, turned away through square leg for one.
Malcolm Waller to Fakhar Zaman. Short in length outside off, Zaman hangs back and cuts it straight to backward point.
Malcolm Waller to Hussain Talat. This one is nicely looped up in line of the stumps, Talat whips it away through mid-wicket. He wanted a second and set off for it, but spotting the fielder get to the ball, Zaman denied him the same. Hussain somehow made his way back, but then the fielder in the deep couldn't collect the ball in a go. Just a single results in the end.
Malcolm Waller to Fakhar Zaman. Waller sees Fakhar come down the track and serves this wider. Zaman reaches out to it and gets it through covers for one.
Malcolm Waller to Fakhar Zaman. Fired quicker outside off, Zaman looks to cut it but misses. Moor takes it and whips the bails off in a flash but the Pakistan southpaw's back foot went nowhere out.
Malcolm Waller to Hussain Talat. Tossed up around off, Talat drives it inside out down to long off for a single.
Malcolm Waller to Fakhar Zaman. Flatter one from round the wicket, Zaman goes back and slaps it through point for one.
More spin. Malcolm Waller is introduced to the bowling crease.
Wellington Masakadza to Fakhar Zaman. Tossed up around leg, flicked away through square leg for a single. A decent start for Wellington.
Wellington Masakadza to Hussain Talat. Fired on the pads, worked away through square leg for one.
Wellington Masakadza to Fakhar Zaman. Flatter around middle and leg, pushed through mid on for one.
Wellington Masakadza to Fakhar Zaman. Floated around off, defended to the off side off the front foot.
Hussain Talat walks in at no.3 for Pakistan.
Wellington Masakadza to Haris Sohail. OUT! The youngster gets the desired breakthrough for the hosts. He is successful in breaking the 58-run opening stand of Pakistan. Wellington Masakadza tosses this one up from round the wicket, Haris Sohail dances down the track to hit it straight over. But he ends up dragging it aerially. The ball travels straight to Solomon Mire at long on, who makes no mistake.
Wellington Masakadza to Haris Sohail. Begins with a slower delivery from round the wicket, Sohail looks to defend. The outside edge is taken and a brace results as the ball rolls towards third man.
Wellington Masakadza to have a bowl now.
Chris Mpofu to Haris Sohail. Angling in on a length, worked away through square leg to retain strike. Pakistan finish on 56/0 at the end of the Powerplay.
Chris Mpofu to Fakhar Zaman. Good running! Very full outside off, squeezed towards short third man. But even though the ball went straight to Chisoro there, the pair stole a run.
Chris Mpofu to Haris Sohail. This ball is punched off the back foot through the cover region for one.
Chris Mpofu to Fakhar Zaman. In the air but safe! Short in length from round the wicket, Zaman pulls it powerfully. The ball flies towards fine leg and lands just short of Muzarabani there. He did well to stop that and keep it down to one.
Chris Mpofu to Haris Sohail. Fuller around off, flicked away through wide mid on for another single.
Chris Mpofu to Fakhar Zaman. Short ball around off, pulled away to the on side for one.
Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Back over the wicket, Fakhar pushes it towards covers to retain strike. The 50 is raised for Pakistan as well as this new opening pair for them.
Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Whooo! That might sting. Muzarabani comes round the wicket and bangs it short, seeing Zaman charge down. The southpaw goes with the pull but ends up getting it off the glove.
Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Blessing drags his length back, Zaman pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a brace.
Blessing Muzarabani to Haris Sohail. On the pads on a fuller length, clipped away through mid-wicket for one.
Blessing Muzarabani to Haris Sohail. WIDE! Full and down the leg side, HS misses the flick.
Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Short in length, pulled away through square leg for one.
Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. FOUR! Length ball angling away, Fakhar stands tall and punches it through covers for a boundary. The runs are continuing to flow for Pakistan.
Blessing Muzarabani gets a change of ends.
Chris Mpofu to Fakhar Zaman. Full outside off, driven towards long off for one.
Chris Mpofu to Haris Sohail. Fuller around off and middle, Sohail looks to tuck it away but ends up getting it off the inner half towards fine leg. He wanted a couple but quick work in the deep denies him that opportunity.
Chris Mpofu to Haris Sohail. WIDE! Harsh? Maybe. This is full and outside off, Sohail makes room initially and hence fails to reach that one. Seems to be a good dot ball but then the umpire stretches both his arms.
Chris Mpofu to Fakhar Zaman. Once again, a delivery in line of the stumps is worked away to the on side for one.
Chris Mpofu to Fakhar Zaman. WIDE! Full and down the leg side, Zaman gets inside the line but misses the hoick.
Chris Mpofu to Fakhar Zaman. Back of a length outside off, Zaman looks to make room and smash it. Misses the ball as it bounced high over.
Chris Mpofu to Haris Sohail. This one is tucked away through mid-wicket for one.
Chris Mpofu to Fakhar Zaman. Mpofu comes round the wicket and lands it outside off. Zaman pushes it towards point and sets off for a run. There is a wild shy at the bowler's end but the batter makes it in.
Chris Mpofu to have a go with the ball now.
Tendai Chisoro to Haris Sohail. Confusion, but no harm done! Sohail turns it towards square leg and wants a run. Hamilton Masakadza gets to the ball in a bid to fire a throw to the keeper but fails to collect it. Meanwhile, the batters were ball watching and hence couldn't take a run.
Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. Quicker through the air this time, pushed towards covers for one.
Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. FOUR! Tossed up around leg, Zaman kneels down and slog sweeps it through square leg. The man from deep mid-wicket tries to stop that getting to his left but in vain.
Tendai Chisoro to Haris Sohail. This one is punched down to long off for another run.
Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. Flatter around off, pushed through mid off for one.
Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. SIX! Massive! Loopy ball from round the wicket, Zaman charges down the track and absolutely belts it over the bowler's head for half a dozen. The on-air commentators also talk about the fact that there is no necessity to bowl a spinner with the fielding restrictions on, specially when he does the job for you when the field spreads.
Blessing Muzarabani to Haris Sohail. FOUR! Wonderful stroke to end the over! This is full and angling away, Sohail just lofts it over mid off and earns himself a boundary.
Blessing Muzarabani to Haris Sohail. Fuller on the pads, turned through backward square leg for a couple.
Blessing Muzarabani to Haris Sohail. On a length in line of the stumps, Sohail stands tall and defends.
Blessing Muzarabani to Haris Sohail. Fuller this time, defended from the crease with a straight bat.
Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Length ball on the hips, worked away through square leg for one.
Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. On a length in line of the stumps, blocked from the crease.
Blessing Muzarabani to run in with the new ball from the other end.
Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. Shorter in length, pulled down to long on for one. 13 off the opening over, as opposed to 12 that Zimbabwe got.
Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. FOUR! Tossed up on middle and leg, Zaman kneels and plays the sweep through square leg. The ball trickles away to the fence.
Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. FOUR! First boundary of the innings. This one is fired full, outside off. Zaman squeezes it out. He manages to get it in the gap between backward point and short third man. This time, although Mire puts in a spirited chase from the former position, he fails to prevent the boundary.
Tendai Chisoro to Haris Sohail. Flatter on the pads, flicked away through mid-wicket for one.
Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. Well done, Muzarabani! Fakhar stays deep in the crease and just chips the pull in the gap between backward square leg and short fine leg. Blessing chases it down from the latter position and does well to save a run for his side. It is taken upstairs for a check and all's fine.
Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. Flatter from round the wicket, Zaman goes back and pulls it back towards the bowler.
Welcome back! With 163 to get, Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail walk out to open the batting for Pakistan. Tendai Chisoro will have a go with the ball first up. He had a very good outing in Zimbabwe's previous game, keeping in mind the carnage that was on show.