Two misfields – How Zimbabwe initially tied and won ODI vs Pakistan in Super Over

In the last two months when cricket has resumed full-fledged, it looks like the season of Super Overs. In the IPL 2020, we have seen four games go into Super Overs, including one Double Super Over. Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab were the first sides to tie the game in IPL 2020 while Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore played out one epic super over. Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad played out a pulsating tie but the game between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab saw a double super over which confounded fans. Now, in a different format and in a different world altogether, Zimbabwe and Pakistan played out an epic tie in the third ODI at Rawalpindi.

However, the game was determined by two misfields. The first misfield initially saw Zimbabwe allowing Pakistan to tie the game. But, in the Super Over, Pakistan dramatically misfielded and gave the game to Zimbabwe. The visitors chose to bat but Mohammad Hasnain was in fine form as he ripped through the Zimbabwe batting to take 5/26 in 10 overs which included three maidens. It was just his sixth ODI. However, Sean Williams blasted 118 and shared partnerships of 77 with Wesley Madhevere and 96 with Sikandar Raza, who hit 46 as Zimbabwe reached 278/6.

In response, Babar Azam blasted 125 and led from the front but Blessing Muzarabani had other ideas and he took 5/49, including that of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi in the 49^th over as Zimbabwe appeared to steal the game. Pakistan needed 13 runs from the final over to be bowled by Richard Ngarava. That was when the drama began

Misfield 1, Misfield 2

Mohammad Musa hit the first ball of the final over for a four but Ngarava bounced back and conceded just three runs in the next four balls. With five runs needed off one ball, Mohammad Musa hammered a full ball to cover where Tendai Chisoro dived to stop the ball but it slipped past him. The misfield resulted in a boundary and the match headed into the Super Over.

In the Super Over, Blessing Muzarabani conceded just two runs and took two wickets as Zimbabwe bowled Pakistan out for 2 runs. Shaheen Afridi was tasked with bowling the Super Over but on the third ball, Babar Azam at backward point misfielded as Sikandar Raza hit a boundary to seal an unlikely win for Zimbabwe.

It felt Tendai Chisoro’s misfield had given the game away for Zimbabwe But, Pakistan did what Pakistan could and that was to go one better and misfield in the Super Over to give Zimbabwe a much-earned win.