A good comeback by Pakistan after the fiasco that took place in the 1st ODI. Hafeez's inning was instrumental in getting Pakistan a score which eventually put too much pressure on the Zimbabwean batsmen. Also Misbah's decision to play an extra bowler paid dividends in the shape of Abdur Rehman's performance.

By PakPassion Staff (29th August, 2013)

Toss: Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field 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, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan
 

Pakistan openers came out to bat on the back of a shock loss and couldn’t lay the desired platform as Ahmed Shehzad fell prey to Brian Vitori in the fourth over for 5(9). 

Mohammad Hafeez, who had found some form lately, was the next man in. He and Nasir Jamshed kept the scorers busy and accumulated some useful runs to build some momentum. 

Nasir Jamshed departed in the 14th over for 32(45), when he was trapped lbw by Prosper Utseya. Misbah-ul-Haq came in and never got going. His first run came after 14 deliveries. His miserable knock finished on 3(23). His wicket was taken by Brian Vitori.

Mohammad Hafeez continued on his merry way with SIXES all around the park. He was joined by Umar Amin, who took a little time to settle. Both of them were involved in a crucial 129-run partnership, but Umar Amin was unluckily to be run out on 59 in the 43rd over after some good fielding by Chatara off his own bowling. 

Then came Shahid Afridi and straight away went after the Zimbabwe bowlers. Panyangara was taken to the cleaners, first by Shahid Afridi and then by Mohammad Hafeez. In the meanwhile, the latter brought up his 6th ODI century. Shahid Afridi continued to hit the bowlers out of the park and managed to score 39 from just 23 deliveries. By doing so, he completed 10,000 runs in international cricket and became only the third player to score 10,000 runs and take 400 wickets in international cricket. 

Mohammad Hafeez remained unbeaten on 136. Pakistan set Zimbabwe a mammoth target of 300 runs for a historical series win.

Fall Of Wickets: 

1-12 (Ahmed Shehzad, 3.6 overs)
2-62 (Nasir Jamshed, 14.1 overs)
3-84 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 21.3 overs)
4-213 (Umar Amin, 42.3 overs)
 

Zimababwe openers couldn’t quite replicate the performance from the first ODI and looked nervy from the very first ball. 

Vusi Sibanda was the first to go, caught by Sarfraz Ahmed off Mohammad Irfan for 2(6). Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor played some positive cricket shots and took the score to some respectability before Junaid Khan uprooted Msakadza's timber. He made 29(28). 

Maruma was the next man in and his brief stay at the wicket ended, when he was run out on 8(27). Sean Williams and Brendan Taylor continued to do the repairing work. Brendan Taylor brought up his much needed fifty after 13 innings of wait and was dropped by Saeed Ajmal off Shahid Afridi. Saeed Ajmal made amends and took the wicket of Sean Williams in the next over, who looked good at 37(38). Brendan Taylor continued to target Saeed Ajmal and Malcolm Waller gave him full support. 

Brebdan Taylor's was seemingly unlucky as he scooped one off Saeed Ajmal to Mohammad Irfan , who took a blinder to remove him. He made a very useful 79(95). 

Things then start to slip away from Zimbabwe’s perspective as Malcolm Waller was bowled by Junaid Khan in the next over on 40(42). Zimbabwe never lifted themselves from that point and Prosper Utseya was cleaned-up by the same bowler, followed by Abdur Rehman, who grabbed the last two wickets of Chatara and Vitori to hand Pakistan victory by 90 runs and squared the series 1-1, with 1 match to play. 

Fall Of Wickets: 

1-6 (Sibanda, 2.2 overs)
2-42 (Masakadza, 7.5 over)
3-65 (Maruma, 14.6 overs) 
4-135 (Williams, 26.6 overs)
5-200 (Taylor, 38.6 overs)
6-200 (Waller, 39.1 overs)
7-201 (Chigumbura, 39.3 overs)
8-206 (Utseya, 41.4 overs)
9-209 (Chatara, 42.3 overs)
10-209 (Vitori, 42.4 ov)
 

A good comeback by Pakistan after the fiasco that took place in the 1st ODI. Hafeez's inning was instrumental in getting Pakistan a score which eventually put too much pressure on the Zimbabwean batsmen. Also Misbah's decision to play an extra bowler paid dividends in the shape of Abdur Rehman's performance.

Zimbabwe may have lost this game, but given their batting abilities, Pakistan would be well aware that any score below 250 will not be safe. Pakistani batting has further work to do if they are to win the final ODI on Saturday.

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