PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan were sent in to bat first after Zimbabwe won the toss on a slow track.
Pakistan’s top three batsmen; Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad and Muhammad Hafeez, were not able to inspire with a great innings but Rizwan and Shoaib Malik made sure they stabilised the innings with a 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Malik then departed and Sarfraz Ahmed joined Rizwan for a small cameo. After Sarfraz was accounted for, Imad Wasim (61) made sure that together with Rizwan, the duo led the team to a good total with a 124-run partnership.
In their chase, Zimbabwe were the usual minnows and did not show any intent to chase the score on their home ground.
Yasir was exceptional with his leg-spin bagging six wickets in nine over giving away only 26 runs.
Teams
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Aamer Yamin, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan.
Zimbabwe: Brian Chari, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Elton Chigumbura (capt), Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Luke Jongwe, John Nyumbu, Chris Mpofu, Tinashe Panyangara.
ZIM 128-10 (37 overs)
Yasir bags the last scalp of Panyangara. Six for him in this match.
ZIM 122-9 (36 overs)
LBW! Greame Cremer (2) tries a reverse sweep and is given out by the umpire.
Shoaib Malik continues.
ZIM 122-8 (35 overs)
OUT! Chigumbura (22) edges a low-keeping delivery to covers.
FOUR! Edge and the ball beats first slip and runs down to the third man boundary.
FOUR! Pitched up and Chigumbura goes for the extra cover region.
Yasir continues.
ZIM 114-7 (34 overs)
OUT! Malik gets his man. Jongwe deceived by the spin from Malik. Nearly curtains for Zimbabwe now. Greame Cremer is in now.
Shoaib Malik bowls his sixth over.
ZIM 107-6 (33 overs)
OUT! Caught brilliantly in slips. Muhammad Hafeez the man. Richmond Mutumbami has been outdone by the spin and the catching. Luke Jongwe joins the captain in the middle.
Yasir Shah in.
ZIM 106-5 (32 overs)
Four runs off the over.
Shoaib Malik again.
ZIM 102-5 (31 overs)
OUT! Third for Yasir. Sikandar Raza (19) tries to hit him out of the ground, instead edges it towards point.
Yasir Shah is back. Five overs and 15 runs off them. Good confidence booster for the leggie.
ZIM 101-4 (30 overs)
Four runs off the over.
Malik operates. Not me, but with the ball.
ZIM 97-4 (29 overs)
Imad in for his seventh over. Just two off it.
Any doctor in the house? Can a boring match bring the live commentator's blood pressure down?
ZIM 95-4 (28 overs)
Malik goes for two in his over.
ZIM 93-4 (27 overs)
Imad goes for three in his over.
ZIM 90-4 (26 overs)
BOWLED! Sean Williams is the victim. Tries the slog sweep and hears the ball rattle his stumps. Captain Elton Chigumbura joins Sikandar Raza.
Shoaib Malik bowls.
ZIM 88-3 (25 overs)
Imad Wasim goes for three runs in his over.
ZIM 85-3 (24 overs)
FOUR! Sikandar Raza punishes a short ball from Shoaib.
Azhar Ali gives the ball to Shoaib Malik for some off-spinners.
ZIM 79-3 (23 overs)
SIX! Pithced outside off and Sean Williams picks it up from the spot and launches it over long-off.
Imad Wasim is back. Can he break this partnership?
ZIM 71-3 (22 overs)
Missed by just one. He gave six runs in it.
Yasir in his fifth over. Five runs off it?
ZIM 65-3 (21 overs)
Two runs off the over.
Wahab runs in.
ZIM 63-3 (20 overs)
Yasir is a magician. Four runs in his fourth over. One in first, two in second, and now four runs in his fourth over.
Yasir in for his fourth.
ZIM 57-3 (19 overs)
Just three runs off the over.
Wahab in for his third over now.
ZIM 56-3 (18 overs)
Only two runs and a wicket off the over. Sikandar Raza join Sean Williams in the middle.
BOWLED! Hamilton Masakadza is cleaned up by Yasir. Went on the back foot and misjudged the length and spin.
Yasir Shah on. Three runs in his third over?
ZIM 54-2 (17 overs)
Eight runs off the over.
FOUR! Edges and the ball runs to the third man boundary. Masakadza won't mind that.
Wahab steams in.
ZIM 46-2 (16 overs)
Yasir Shah goes for two runs in his second over after giving one run in his first. Who believes he will go for three in his third?
ZIM 44-2 (15 overs)
Six runs off the over and its Drinks!
Starts with an over-stepped no-ball. Free hit for Sean Williams.
Wahab Riaz brought on as soon as the wicket fell.
ZIM 38-2 (14 overs)
BOWLED! A beauty from Yasir. Went through Brian Chari without even touching anything. This is Yasir for you people!
Yasir Shah brought into the attack by Azhar. Time for Shane Warne's favourite to inspire Pakistan.
ZIM 37-1 (13 overs)
Three off the over. The spinner skimming through his over quickly. Hoping to see captain Azhar Ali bowl a few leggies as well.
Imad Wasim on for his third.
ZIM 34-1 (12 overs)
Four runs from the debutante's over.
Aamir Yamin in for his sixth over on the trot.
ZIM 30-1 (11 overs)
Just two runs off his over.
Imad in for his second over now.
ZIM 28-1 (10 overs)
Just two runs off the over.
Aamir Yamin continues. A wicket here will be a big boost for this youngster.
ZIM 26-1 (9 overs)
LBW! Chibhabha is a victim of another leg-before dismissal. He was dismissed by left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir in the last T20. This time its a left-arm spinner.
Imad Wasim is brought into the attack.
ZIM 23-0 (8 overs)
FOUR! Sliced away by one debutante off another. Brian Chari with a beautiful shot.
Aamir Yamin in for his fourth.
ZIM 15-0 (7 overs)
Another maiden for Irfan and third maiden from Pakistan. Are they going for a World Cup of some sort? Lets see!
Muhammad Irfan comes from round the wicket.
ZIM 15-0 (6 overs)
FOUR! No maiden this time. Chibhabha makes sure he makes the ball kiss the extra cover boundary with a proper timed shot.
Right-arm debutante again.
ZIM 11-0 (5 overs)
Two runs off the over. A silent start by Zimbabwe. Is this the silence before the storm or the silence of the soon-to-be slaughtered lambs?
Irfan in for his third.
ZIM 9-0 (4 overs)
Yamin bowls his maiden maiden over in ODIs.
Aamir Yamin again. No surprise packages by him till now.
ZIM 9-0 (3 overs)
FOUR! Bouncer and Chibhabha top-edges it over the keeper and slip squadron for a boundary.
Irfan steams in for his second over.
ZIM 4-0 (2 overs)
Three runs off his over. His bowling style doesn't look too threatening. He is more like Anwar Ali, straight run-up and immediate release from the hand. No high jumps or slinging action.
Pakistan debutante Aamir Yamin has been given the new ball now.
ZIM 0-0 (1 over)
Its a maiden!
Muhammad Irfan is going to ball the first over as Zimbabwe start their chase of 260 runs. Chamu Chibhabha and debutante Brian Chari open the batting for the hosts.
PAK 252-6 (50 overs)
SIX! Muhammad Rizwan goes over the long-on boundary on a full-toss. He remains unbeaten on 75. Pakistan set a decent enough total to chase for the bowlers.
RUN OUT! Imad (61) beaten by the kick of Richmond Mutumbami onto the stumps. What is this guy doing here? Zimbabwe can make a football team under his captaincy.
FOUR! Over the head of the mid-on fielder towards the long-on boundary.
FOUR! Leg byes but Pakistan would love anything right now. On Rizwan's legs and the ball deflects and runs towards the third man boundary.
WIDE followed by a single.
FOUR! Picked up early and guided towards square leg for a boundary Imad.
Panyangara in for the last over.
PAK 237-5 (49 overs)
Jongwe bowls the penultimate over for only six runs.
PAK 231-5 (48 overs)
FOUR! Imad goes past the short third man fielder with a reverse chip and completes his FIFTY.
DROPPED and FOUR! Imad Wasim put down at midwicket by Sean Williams. The fielder immediately runs off the field. His hand is hurt. Meanwhile, the ball ran to the boundary.
Panyangara bowls.
PAK 214-5 (47 overs)
Six runs off the over.
Jongwe in to bowl at the death.
PAK 211-5 (46 overs)
FOUR! Swept away by Muhammad Rizwan. Not really a sweep but a chip sweep.
Panyangara is back.
PAK 200-5 (45 overs)
Six runs off the over.
Nyumbu bowls the last over of batting powerplay.
PAK 194-5 (44 overs)
Just four runs off the over.
Sean Williams in his ninth over now.
PAK 190-5 (43 overs)
FOUR! Imad Wasim guides the ball towards square leg.
https://twitter.com/NabeelHashmi88/status/649531949342593024
Luke Jongwe again.
PAK 181-5 (42 overs)
Just four runs off the over. Is it really the powerplay?
Sean Williams!
PAK 177-5 (41 overs)
Only six runs off the first over of powerplay.
Powerplay three and Luke Jongwe comes on to bowl.
PAK 171-5 (40 overs)
Three runs off the over.
Sean Williams.
PAK 168-5 (39 overs)
Five singles off the over and a dot on the last ball.
Nyumbu in for his eighth over.
PAK 163-5 (38 overs)
Four runs off the over.
Sean Williams is back.
PAK 159-5 (37 overs)
Seven runs off his over.
FOUR! Played late between the keeper and the short third man by Rizwan.
Nyumbu continues.
PAK 152-5 (36 overs)
FOUR! Rizwan with a sweep from outside off towards the midwicket boundary.
Cremer again.
PAK 143-5 (35 overs)
Nyumbu goes for five runs in his sixth over.
PAK 138-5 (34 overs)
FOUR! Imad Wasim towards the cover point boundary.
Cremer bowls.
PAK 130-5 (33 overs)
Just a single off his over. The field has been taken in for the new batsman Imad Wasim.
Nyumbu operates.
PAK 129-5 (32 overs)
One run and a wicket for the leggie in the over.
OUT! Cremer strikes. Sarfraz (44) uses his feet, dances down the ground, tries to clear mid-wicket but is caught. A well drafted innings comes to a tumultuous end.
Greame Cremer is back in the attack.
PAK 128-4 (31 overs)
SIX! Muhammad Rizwan this time. Two steps down the pitch and lofted over mid-wicket.
Nyumbu.
PAK 120-4 (30 overs)
FOUR! Sarfraz takes the charge to the bowler now. Finds the fence at mid-wicket.
Sean Williams.
PAK 113-4 (29 overs)
Just a single off the over. Run scoring stunted again. Malik's wicket causing another disruption in the run flow.
Nyumbu in for his third over.
PAK 112-4 (28 overs)
Just the four runs off it.
Sean Williams in for his fourth over.
PAK 108-4 (27 overs)
FOUR! Sarfraz with a late cut past point.
Nyumbu again.
PAK 103-4 (26 overs)
Sean Williams goes for three runs in his over.
PAK 100-4 (25 overs)
BOWLED! Bowling change works for Zimbabwe. Shoaib Malik (31), the danger man, departs. Another failed walk down the ground by Malik and he misses the ball in the air. Muhammad Rizwan joins Sarfraz. What a combo of keeper with keeper.
Nyumbu brought into the attack.
PAK 99-3 (24 overs)
Four runs off the over.
Sean Williams continues.
PAK 95-3 (23 overs)
FOUR! This times sweetly cut by Malik between the keeper and the fielder at short fine leg. This is his trademark shot. Play late and play it fine.
FOUR! Malik stands and delivers. Ball rushes past the mid-on fielder for a boundary. He seemed frustrated while playing the shot. The boundaries are not coming in easy we know, calm down Malik sahab.
Chibhabha bowls his eighth over.
PAK 87-3 (22 overs)
Four runs off the over.
Bowling change. Left-arm spinner Sean Williams brought into the attack.
PAK 83-3 (21 overs)
Five singles and a double to end the over. Seven runs off it. Good strategy by Sarfraz and Malik to rotate the strike as often as possible.
Chibhabha in for his seventh. Chigumbura searching for another wicket from his best bowlers.
PAK 76-3 (20 overs)
FOUR! Sarfraz using his strength once again. Sweep earns him a boundary.
Greame Cremer bowls his third over. Malik will use his feet against him while Sarfraz is sweeping him for runs. It will be interesting to see how Pakistan leggie Yasir Shah operates on this pitch.
PAK 68-3 (19 overs)
Maiden bowled by Chibhabha.
Zimbabwe making Pakistan batsmen work for their runs here. No easy singles available and boundaries are restricted too at the moment. Sarfraz, Malik taking their time. They know they have 30+ over left to play.
Chamu Chibhabha continues.
PAK 67-3 (18 overs)
Five runs off the over.
Cremer in for his second.
Meanwhile, Pakistan women cricket team has beaten Bangladesh women cricket team by 34 runs in the second T20 to bag the two-match series 2-0 in Karachi.
PAK 63-3 (17 overs)
Five runs off his over.
Chamu Chibhabha bowls his fifth.
PAK 58-3 (16 overs)
SIX! Shoaib Malik loves to hit Cremer. In the first T20, he walked down on him, in the second T20 he mis-hit it to the fielder and today he has scored a maximum off him. Straight over the bowler's head today.
Spin introduced into the attack now. Greame Cremer, the leggie, is in.
PAK 42-3 (15 overs)
STUMP chance! Sarfraz survives. Just pushed his foot back in to survive. Drinks taken now!
Chamu Chibhabha in to bowl his fourth over.
PAK 42-3 (14 overs)
Sometimes a Pakistan cricket might feel that the cricket team has only two modes. A bashing and thrashing T20 mode or a steady Test mode. The rankings reflect that fact. However, in ODIs they are confused to go all out or stay, wait and then play.
#ETconvos@AzharAli_ just came back from Hajj and play first ODI
— Muhammad Umair (@MohUmair87) October 1, 2015
His batting show he is not match fit
[He might be tired but he needs to lead the team. Still, he didn't give away his wicket easily like Shehzad and Hafeez. He was unfortunate.]
Panyangara bowls his sixth.
PAK 40-3 (13 overs)
Just a single run off the over.
LBW appeal on Malik but the umpire says no. The ball was drifting down the leg side.
Chamu Chibhabha is on now.
PAK 39-3 (12 overs)
Just the three runs from the over.
Panyangara is back now.
PAK 36-3 (11 overs)
Just one run from the over. Pakistani batsmen need to understand that playing a 50-over and a 20-over game are two different things.
Chamu Chibhabha in for his second.
PAK 35-3 (10 overs)OUT! Third wicket gone and no miracles by the bowlers. Lose shots by Shehzad and now Hafeez. He is caught at short cover. Shoaib Malik is in earlier than he would have expected. Pakistan still not out of the T20 frame of mind?
FOUR! Full and on Hafeez's legs. Glanced towards long leg by the right-hand professor.
Jongwe in for his fifth over on the trot.
PAK 31-2 (9 overs)
Just a single off his over.
Chamu Chibhabha in for his first over.
PAK 30-2 (8 overs)
FOUR! Pakistan batsman playing beautiful cover drives today. Hafeez this time, steady in his stance and it bisects the fielder nicely.
Jongwe in for his fourth.
PAK 24-2 (7 overs)
OUT! Caught at mid-off. Shehzad chips it to Chigumbura for a dolly! He departs for 12 and Pakistan in opening trouble. Surprise, surprise! Sarfraz Ahmed has been sent out to bat at the number four position instead of Shoaib Malik.
FOUR! Shehzad again this time. He uses his feet to guide the ball towards the long-off boundary.
FOUR! Elegant strike through covers by Ahmed Shehzad. Timed to perfection.
Panyangara bowls with the keeper standing up.
PAK 16-1 (6 overs)
RUN OUT! A mix up between the batsmen and Azhar Ali (11) has to depart early. Muhammad Hafeez join Shehzad.
FOUR! Azhar walks down the pitch and smashes it over the covers.
Jongwe.
PAK 12-0 (5 overs)
FOUR! Eased through the covers for a boundary by Azhar Ali. Timing coupled with sheer class!
Panyangara.
PAK 7-0 (4 overs)
Just a single off the over. Pakistani openers taking their time to settle in before they start playing their shots.
Luke Jongwe in for his second now.
PAK 6-0 (3 overs)
Six runs off the over.
Panyangara in for his second.
PAK 1-0 (2 overs)
DROPPED! Azhar Ali given a life line at second slip. Such an easy catch and its been put down.
First run on the board by Shehzad. A quick single stolen from covers.
Luke Jongwe will share the new ball with Panyangara.
PAK 0-0 (1 over)
Zimbabwe start off with a maiden over.
Azhar's elbow hurt while leaving the ball. The ball takes an unusual bounce from Panyangara. He is taking his time to get settled.
Captain Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad have walked out for Pakistan. Tinashe Panyangara will open the bowling for the hosts.
Toss
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura won the toss and sent Pakistan in to bat first. He feels he can chase whatever Azhar-led men will put up for them.
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