(Last Updated on September 30, 2015 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – That is all we have for you from this game. Do join us next month, on the very first day, at 0730 GMT (1300 IST) for the first of the 3-match ODI series at the very same ground. Until then, Adios! Take Care!
Afridi gets his team together to lift the trophy and they pose for a group photograph. So that brings curtains to a series, which, not too unsurprisingly, went Pakistan’s way. The results might seem close but hard to say whether Zimbabwe gave Pakistan a run for their money. Some smart batting might have done it. They will hope that they do better in the ODIs and show what they are capable of, as they did in the 2015 World Cup, in a couple of games.
Victorious skipper Afridi smiles and says that once again Pakistan missed out on an opportunity of scoring big. Adds that if they bat smartly, they can score 160-170. Praises all his bowlers one by one. On being asked what did he say in the mid-innings break, he says he asked his guys to demonstrate positive body language, which is a must to win any game. Lastly, he believes that Pakistan’s ODI squad is capable of beating any side in the world.
Zimbabwean skipper Chigumbura smiles and says he needs to repeat what he said last game (On not being able to finish matches). Once again, he laments the poor batting performance. Wants to make sure that the performance is upped in the ODIs.
UMAR AKMAL has been named the MAN OF THE MATCH for his counter-attacking unbeaten 38 while IMAD WASIM gets the MAN OF THE SERIES for his figures of 5/25 in 8 overs in the two games. Akmal is not invited for a chat but Wasim is called over. He smiles and says that he is happy to take this wicket wherever he goes. Is extremely happy that Zimbabwe prepared wickets suited to him and he only had to bowl a consistent length. He understands that if he bowls short, he is going to be whacked. Credits Afridi and Waqar for their useful insights.
This is Pakistan’s 6th successive win in T20Is. Let us compare the two scorecards. Zimbabwe had two batsmen topping the total runs scored in the match and also hit more sixes (3) as compared to Pakistan (1). The visitors also faced 50 dot balls while the hosts faced 51 dots. In the end, the tourists’ 14 fours prevailed over only 6 of the hosts. Something which they need to work upon. Also, they need to rotate the strike and improve their running between the wickets.
Pakistan bowled really well. Their bowlers stuck to their lines and lengths and kept on bowling slower deliveries, one after the other. Tanvir and Irfan were excellent upfront, piling on the pressure with the new ball while the spinners were brilliant in the middle.
Once again, Zimbabwe have failed to bat well. They conceded the same score as they did on Sunday but the top order flopped again. Only difference from the previous game was that this time there was a partnership in the middle which gave them a chance but they fell short again.
19.6 Khan jr to S Williams, Outside off, pushed through the covers for a single off the last ball. ANOTHER WIN FOR PAKISTAN, THIS TIME BY 15 RUNS. The series ends 2-0 in their favour. 121/7
GRAEME CREMER is the last man in. Not technically, but this is the last ball of the match. Legally.
19.5 Khan jr to L Jongwe, OUT! Simple caught and bowled chance. A slower ball outside off, fuller in length, Jongwe looks to swipe across the line but gets a top edge which goes straight up in the air. Short extra cover comes in, the bowler goes to his left, calls for it and takes it. 120/7
19.4 Khan jr to L Jongwe, Outside off, a play and a miss from Jongwe. 120/6
19.3 Khan jr to L Jongwe, Full on middle, chipped over mid-wicket for a couple. 120/6
19.2 Khan jr to S Williams, Goes for the reverse sweep but misses and mistimes it towards point for a run. 118/6
19.1 Khan jr to L Jongwe, Full on middle, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. 117/6
IMRAN to bowl the last over. He is defending 20. He went for 15 in his previous over.
18.6 S Tanvir to L Jongwe, That was close. A full ball from outside off, Jongwe attempts the reverse sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. Tanvir appeals but that was perhaps going down leg. A leg bye taken. 116/6
18.5 S Tanvir to S Williams, A short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for a run. 115/6
18.4 S Tanvir to S Williams, Full on middle, driven through mid on for a couple. There was a misfield at the boundary. 114/6
18.3 S Tanvir to L Jongwe, Outside off, driven through mid on for a single. 112/6
18.2 S Tanvir to L Jongwe, FOUR! That is innovative! Full and outside off, Jongwe gets across and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary! 111/6
18.1 S Tanvir to S Williams, Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single. 107/6
SOHAIL TANVIR to bowl the penultimate over.
17.6 M Irfan to S Williams, Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a single. 106/6
17.5 M Irfan to S Williams, A slower ball this time, short in length, Williams pulls with all his might but misses. 105/6
17.4 M Irfan to S Williams, FOUR! Outside off, steered past short third man for a boundary! Afridi gambled on keeping the mid off back and third man up but Irfan’s length helped Williams to manipulate easily. 105/6
LUKE JONGWE walks in at number 8, replacing Chigumbura.
17.3 M Irfan to E Chigumbura, OUT! Caught! Malik does not drop this one and this could be game over for the hosts. A length ball on middle, Chigumbura pulls it straight to Malik at long on. Simple catch. A promising innings, cut short. 101/6
17.2 M Irfan to E Chigumbura, A short ball outside off, pulled towards deep mid-wicket for a couple. 101/5
17.1 M Irfan to E Chigumbura, Outside off, Chigumbura slashes hard but misses. 99/5
MOHAMMAD IRFAN to bowl out.
16.6 Khan jr to E Chigumbura, Sensible from Chigumbura, worked towards deep mid-wicket for a single. 15 from that over, is there more than what is meeting the eye? 99/5
16.5 Khan jr to E Chigumbura, SIX! Ferocious! A length ball outside off, Chigumbura hits this cleaner than the previous one and lofts this well over Shehzad at long off for another biggie! 39 more needed from 19 balls now. 98/5
16.4 Khan jr to E Chigumbura, DROPPED! SIX! Poor fielding from Shehzad. Full and outside off, Chigumbura looks to hit this downtown but does not middle it. Shehzad gets across from long off to his right but for reasons known only to him, he leaps and parries the ball over the ropes! 45 needed from 20 balls now. 92/5
16.3 Khan jr to E Chigumbura, A short ball outside off, pulled through mid-wicket for a well-run couple. 86/5
16.2 Khan jr to E Chigumbura, Yorker length outside off, dug out back to the bowler. 84/5
Skipper ELTON CHIGUMBURA comes in at number 7, replacing Raza. One would feel that if he is in the side purely as a batsman, then he is coming in far too down the order.
16.1 Khan jr to S Raza, OUT! BOWLED! The stand has been broken. Not that Pakistan were in grave danger or something, but still, they will be happy to see the back of Raza. A slower ball on middle, Raza comes down the track and swings hard, only to miss. The ball crashes into the stumps and Raza looks like his world has come down crashing. The run-a-ball 60-run stand is broken and Zimbabwe need 53 from just 23 balls. 84/5
15.6 S Tanvir to S Raza, Punches it off the back foot for a run. 84/4
15.5 S Tanvir to S Raza, Full and outside off, driven through mid off. The fielder returns a wild throw in the middle of the pitch and poor Rizwan has to run to stop it. The batsmen take the overthrow. 83/4
15.4 S Tanvir to S Raza, A full ball outside off, Raza throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge which flies over point. Two runs taken. 81/4
15.3 S Tanvir to S Williams, A short ball outside off, pulled towards deep mid-wicket for a single. 79/4
15.2 S Tanvir to S Williams, Short and outside off, Williams slashes hard but misses. 78/4
15.1 S Tanvir to S Williams, A slower ball outside off, short in length, Williams looks to pull but misses. 78/4
SOHAIL TANVIR comes back on. Just 3 runs in his first 2 overs. Some Zimbabwean supporters still stay optimistic, saying that 60 in 5 overs is achievable. Those just played a couple of video games last evening.
14.6 Khan jr to S Raza, Short and outside off, cut behind point for a couple. 59 needed from the last 5 overs. 78/4
14.5 Khan jr to S Williams, The batsman has driven it through mid off. One run added to the total. 76/4
14.4 Khan jr to S Raza, Comes down the track and pushes it down the ground to long on for a single. 75/4
14.3 Khan jr to S Raza, Sweeps this fine for another couple. 74/4
14.2 Khan jr to S Raza, On middle, flicked through mid-wicket for a couple. 72/4
14.1 Khan jr to S Williams, Almost a boundary! Maqsood smiles. But he wouldn’t have been had that gone through. A short ball outside off, Williams heaves it towards Maqsood at deep mid-wicket. The fielder remain stationary, waiting for the ball to come to him but at the last moment, the ball spins away and he dives to his left to stop the ball. Just a single. 70/4
13.6 S Afridi to S Raza, Played to the point region by the batsman. 69/4
13.5 S Afridi to S Williams, On middle and leg, swept through mid-wicket for a single. 69/4
13.4 S Afridi to S Williams, FOUR! Landed on middle, Williams reverse sweeps it past Imran Khan junior at short third man for a crucial boundary. 68/4
13.3 S Afridi to S Raza, The batsman plays the Square Cut. They pick up a single. 64/4
13.2 S Afridi to S Williams, Comes down the track and eases it through the covers for a single. 63/4
13.1 S Afridi to S Williams, Goes for the sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. 62/4
12.6 Khan jr to S Raza, A slower ball outside off, Raza comes down the track and swings hard but misses. The ball just goes past the off stump. 62/4
12.5 Khan jr to S Raza, DROPPED! Technically. In reality, it was a terrific attempt. Full on middle, Raza comes down the track and chips it towards mid-wicket. He seems to have got it in the gap but Wasim runs a few quick yards to his left and stretches out his left hand to pick a stunner. However, as he lands, the ball drops out and the batsmen take a couple. 62/4
12.4 Khan jr to S Raza, Comes down the track and flicks it uppishly through mid-wicket for a couple. 60/4
12.3 Khan jr to S Raza, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. 58/4
12.2 Khan jr to S Williams, Full and outside off, hammered down to long off for a run. 58/4
12.1 Khan jr to S Raza, Outside off, dabbed to third man for a single. 57/4
IMRAN KHAN JUNIOR gets his first stint with the ball today.
11.6 S Afridi to S Raza, Full and outside off, eased towards long on for a single. Afridi is furious with Umar Akmal and shouts, “UMAR! KYA KAR RAHE HO? ZARA TEZI SE AAO!!!” meaning (Umar, what are you doing? Come in running a bit quicker!) 56/4
11.5 S Afridi to S Raza, Comes down the track and eases it through mid off. Long off comes running in and fumbles, allowing the second. 55/4
11.4 S Afridi to S Williams, On middle and leg, worked through square leg for another run. 53/4
11.3 S Afridi to S Raza, Played to the point region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. 52/4
11.2 S Afridi to S Williams, Full on middle, chipped towards deep mid-wicket for a run. 51/4
11.1 S Afridi to S Raza, Landed outside off, dabbed to short third man for a single. 50/4
10.6 I Wasim to S Raza, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. Another great spell from Wasim – 4-0-14-1. 49/4
10.5 I Wasim to S Williams, On middle, driven through mid on for another single. 48/4
10.4 I Wasim to S Raza, Full and outside off, pushed uppishly towards covers for one. 47/4
10.3 I Wasim to S Raza, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 46/4
10.2 I Wasim to S Williams, On middle, worked through square leg for a run. 46/4
10.1 I Wasim to S Raza, Full on middle, flicked towards long on for a single. 45/4