Pakistan scrape through with victory in 2nd T20I and take series 2-0

By PakPassion Staff (24th May, 2015)

Result: Pakistan won by 2 wickets (with 2 balls remaining), Zimbabwe 175/3 (20/20 ov), Pakistan 176/8 (19.4/20 ov)

Toss: Zimbabwe won toss and decided to bat first

Teams:

Zimbabwe: V Sibanda, H Masakadza, SC WilliamsCK Coventry†, E Chigumbura*, Sikandar Raza, AG Cremer, CJ Chibhabha, CB Mpofu, BV Vitori, P Utseya

Pakistan: Mukhtar Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi*, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Rizwan†, Bilawal Bhatti, Nauman Anwar, Mohammad Sami, Imad Wasim

The emotions of the historic return of international cricket to Pakistan put away to the side, today's game looked more like business as usual for both sides.

It was certainly business as usual for the Pakistan bowlers who took another sound beating from the visitors. Whilst Pakistan threw in Nauman Anwar, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Rizwan to allow for some good old fashioned home series experimentation, the Zimbabwe batsmen took scant notice of this move. 

Sibanda (49), Williams (58*) and Chigumbura (21) made merry and helped Zimbabwe to an even higher score than the last game. Whilst there we no major howlers by the Pakistan fielding die, the bowlers continued were unable to find that perfect length (or line),with the spinners doing marginally better. Diehard Pakistan fans were left clutching at straws at facts like Shahid Afridi's first wicket after 6 years on his home soil. Shoaib Malik ended up with the best bowling figures with 1/23, showing glimpses of his utility as an all-rounder. All said and done, it was once again down to the Pakistan batsmen to show what they were made of as Zimbabwe set a more than able 176 as the target for the home side.

Pakistan openers started sedately but got into their groove very soon. Mukhtar Ahmed as witnessed in the 1st T20I has no inhibitions about playing with a free hand and so he proved yet again. Nauman Anwar (18) on his debut played some delightful shots but couldn't get to a significant total. Whilst Mukhtar seemed content with bludgeoning every other delivery, Nauman was a picture of good technique and does seem someone with a bright future. Mukhtar pushed his luck a few times too many and his departure brought in Afridi (7) to the crease but he lasted long enough to deposit one outside the ground and perished in the way he normally does on the next ball! 

Umar Akmal and Mohammad Rizwan then combined in a scintillating,heart racing partnership until Akmal played a strange agricultural shot (30) followed by Anwar Ali's charge of the light brigade which brought Pakistan to it's knees. Mohammad Rizwan (6) was now starting to feel the pressure and did not last long. The drama of a final over was brought to an unsuspecting Lahore audience courtesy of a trademark Pakistan "Jaws" "Victory" & "Defeat" type performance. It was finally left to Bilawal Bhatti (13*) to take Pakistan home along with debutant Imad Wasim (4*). Pakistan won the game by 2 wickets and took the series 2-0 as the first phase of this historic tour came to an end. 


Mukhtar Ahmed was the stand out performer for Pakistan in the batting department whilst the bowling remained ordinary. Giving away 170+ to Zimbabwe was not what the doctor ordered, neither was the drama to take the game to the last over but for that the credit must also go to Zimbabwe for their dogged determination. For Pakistan, T20I tamasha is now over and it's time for Azhar Ali and men to do some serious work in the 3 match ODI series which starts from the 26th of May.

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