Dav Whatmore warned about complacency during the preparatory camp for the tour of Zimbabwe and it appears that his warning had some weight. Some serious questions need asking about team selection and Pakistan's inability to put up big totals against a somewhat weaker opposition such as Zimbabwe.
 

By PakPassion.net Staff (27th August, 2013)

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

Teams: 

Zimbabwe: V Sibanda, H Masakadza, BRM Taylor*†, SC Williams, T Maruma, MN Waller, E Chigumbura, P Utseya, T Panyangara, TL Chatara, BV Vitori

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Amin, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Shahid Afridi, Haris Sohail, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan
 

Misbah-ul-Haq became the first Pakistan captain to lead in 50 consecutive ODIs and sent his openers, Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad, to open the innings on a pitch that was doing a bit initially. 

They saw off the first few overs with little difficulty and rode their luck as the Zimbabwe fielders were caught napping in the field. The first four was hit in the eighth over and the mandatory power-play yielded 41 runs without any scare for Pakistan. Ahmed Shehzad swept Prosper Utseya for four, but was stumped by Brendan Taylor for 24(47) in the same over. Mohammad Hafeez started on a mission and struck Prosper Utseya for two SIXES on two consecutive balls, but Nasir Jamshed fell prey to Chatara for 27(53) in the next over. 

Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez kept the scoreboard ticking over with ones, twos and threes in each over. Mohammad Hafeez targeted Prosper Utseya again in the 25th over by hitting a SIX. Mohammad Hafeez, then went after Malcolm Waller, smashed him for a couple of fours and then moved to his half-century in the next over. After a few quiet and boundary-less overs Mohammad Hafeez was caught by Maruma off Chatara for 70(71) in the 38th over. In the next over, Umar Amin was run out for 1(1) and Shahid Afridi was promoted up the order to slog hard. The move didn’t pay dividends and he, after managing couple of fours, was caught behind off Brian Vitori in a bid to smash one out of the park. He scored 11 from 15 balls. 

Haris Sohail soon followed him, when he was caught breathtakingly by Prosper Utseya off Brian Vitori. Sarfraz Ahmed didn’t stick around for long either and was run out for 7(18). Misbah-ul-Haq changed gears in the last over and hit the roof twice with two towering SIXES off Panyangara. He remained unbeaten on 83(85) and in doing so, he became the leading run-scorer in ODIs in 2013. Pakistan finished on a modest 244/7 from 50 overs. 

Fall Of Wickets

1-56 (Ahmed Shehzad, 14.5 overs)
2-80 (Nasir Jamshed, 19.5 overs) 
3-179 (Mohammad Hafeez, 37.4 overs)
4-184 (Umar Amin, 38.4 overs)
5-198 (Shahid Afridi, 41.4 overs) 
6-202 (Haris Sohail, 43.2 overs)
7-223 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 47.5 overs)

 

Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda came out with history in their minds. They played the Pakistan seamers with no bother at all and were up and running from the very start of their innings. After 7 overs, they were 38/0, which prompted Misbah-ul-Haq to bring his spinners into the attack. 

Runs dried up a bit, but wickets were still far away. In the 23rd over, Zimbabwe’s 100 was raised as Vusi Sibanda reached his well deserved fifty, but he was shown his way by Saeed Ajmal, who trapped him lbw for 54(82). Captain Brendan Taylor joined a well-set Hamilton Masakadza at the crease. Both of them guided the ship peacefully until Hamilton Masakadza gave away his wicket in a rather soft manner. He was caught by Misbah-ul-Haq off Saeed Ajmal for 85(104). 

Maruma was the next man in, who didn’t quite get going as he managed a lucky top edged SIX off Junaid Khan, only to be caught by Ahmed Shehzad on the very next ball. Zimabawe were very close of making history, when Sean Williams stepped in. He struck four fours in three overs and took Zimbabwe on the brink. Only 5 runs were required off the last two overs and he pulled Mohammad Irfan to gift Zimbabwe a memorable win over Pakistan after 15 years. He and Taylor remained not out on 43 and 39 respectively. 

Fall Of Wickets

1-107 (Sibanda, 23.3 overs)
2-176 (Masakadza, 37.4 overs)
3-201 (Maruma, 42.6 overs)
 

Dav Whatmore warned about complacency during the preparatory camp for the tour of Zimbabwe and it appears that his warning had some weight. Some serious questions need asking about team selection and Pakistan's inability to put up big totals against a somewhat weaker opposition such as Zimbabwe.

For the hosts, a day of great joy and much needed relief as they have discovered their giant killer touch - thanks to some heroic and brave innings by Masakadza (MOM) supported well by Sibanda and Taylor to name a few. They refused to be overawed by Pakistan and can be proud of their achievement today.

Next Game: 2nd ODI, Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Harare , 29th August

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