Despite losing two early wickets, Pakistan batted well in the end to accumulate a very defendable target of 162. Shehzad's performance in the CPL would have led most to believe his anchor role in today's match would not have been possible, but he silenced critics.

Pakistan openers, Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad, made their way out in the middle and started off watchfully. Nasir Jamsed clipped one towards short fine leg and was caught by Vitori off Chatara for 2(5). Mohammad Hafeez, the skipper, didn’t last long either and was caught behind off the same bowler for 3(8). Umar Amin and Ahmed Shehzad upped the pace with fours off Masakadza in the 6th over, but Prosper Utseya got the better of the first one, when he mistimed one to Brendan Taylor. Umar Amin departed for 14(18) and Pakistan were in some bother at 51/3 in the 9th over. The debutant, Sohaib Maqsood, strode out and played five dot balls on the trot before getting off the mark. He, then, started to play his normal game and smashed Elton Chigumbura for SIX, who gave 17 runs in that over, to shift the momentum towards Pakistan. Ahmed Shehzad also benefited in that over and improvised a couple of boundaries. Both of them continued on their merry way and brought a couple of fours from Sean Williams’ over. Elton Chigumbura was surprisingly brought back for another over and was pulled for SIX by Sohaib Maqsood. The very next ball brought his downfall, when Vusi Sibanda sprinted to take his catch at the fence. His debut cameo ended at 26(16). It was the turn of the in form, Shahid Afridi, to chance his arms. Meanwhile, Ahmed Shehzad brought up his fifty with a four off Elton Chigumbura. His half century came off 40 balls. He, then, struck fours off Chatara and Vitori in successive overs before getting caught at the fence by Waller off Masakadza for 70(50). Shahid Afridi didn’t hold back and smoked a SIX of Masakadza. He continued to pile up the runs with a four off Vitori in the next over. The last over was bowled by Chatara and Pakistan managed 9 runs from it. Shahid Afridi and Anwar Ali remained unbeaten on 23 and 10 respectively. Pakistan posted a very competitive 161/5 from their 20 overs. 


Fall Of Wickets

1-14 (Nasir Jamshed, 1.5 overs)
2-21 (Mohammad Hafeez, 3.2 overs)
3-51 (Umar Amin, 8.2 overs)
4-106 (Sohaib Maqsood, 14.3 overs)
5-135 (Ahmed Shehzad, 17.2 overs)

 

Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza got Zimbabwe off to a confident start. Masakadza managed two fours off Mohammad Irfan in the second over. Both of them struck a couple of fours off Anwar Ali in his first over. Vusi Sibanda continued finding the fence and found it twice, once against Mohammad Ifran and then against Anwar Ali. Anwar Ali got his first wicket, when he trapped Hamilton Masakadza lbw for 18(16). Brendan Taylor joined Vusi Sibanda and wasted no time in setting in. He struck a couple of boundaries early in his innings. Shahid Afridi bowled Vusi Sibanda on 32(41). Sean Williams came in and went out, trapped lbw, trying to reverse sweep Mohammad Hafeez. He made 9(7). Maruma was sent in ahead of Chigumbura and failed to get going. He was stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed off Shahid Afridi from a quicker delivery for 10(13). Elton Chigumbura hit Shahid Afridi for four, but was bowled by Shahid Afridi in the same over for 6(5). This was Shahid Afridi’s 3rd wicket and he finished with brilliant figures of 3/25. Malcolm Waller targeted Saeed Ajmal and struck a four and a SIX off him, but it was too late. The last over was bowled by Sohail Tanvir, who conceded mere 6 runs and Pakistan won the match easily by 25 runs. 

Fall Of Wickets
1-53 (H Masakadza, 7.5 overs) 
2-80 (Sibanda, 12.2 overs)
3-89 (Williams, 13.3 overs)
4-111 (Maruma, 17.1 overs)
5-117 (Chigumbura, 17.6 overs)

Summary
Despite losing two early wickets, Pakistan batted well in the end to accumulate a very defendable target of 162. Shehzad's performance in the CPL would have led most to believe his anchor role in today's match would not have been possible, but he silenced critics.

There were high expectations from Pakistan's bowling attack, but it took a while for them to strike. While Irfan's bounce was uncomfortable to play, it didn't really have much of an affect as he failed to take a wicket. Anwar Ali broke a crucial partnership and Afridi did the damage towards the end. Overall, Pakistan's top order needs to revise their tactics and the bowling attack may be wondering why they didn't strike till the 7.5th over.

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