| 0.0 : TOSS - Zimbabwe have won the toss and they will BAT first! |
| Craig Ervine, the skipper of Zimbabwe says the wicket will play pretty much the same and they want to put up a good score on the board and put them under pressure. Adds they have to be ready for their pace attack, they need to adapt quickly and do well. Informs they have one change. |
| Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan says they wanted to bowl first as there might be some movement earlier on. Informs everyone is fit and ready to go. Adds they have one change, Asif is out and Wasim comes in. |
| Zimbabwe (Playing XI) - Regis Chakabva (WK), Craig Ervine (C), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Wesley Madhevere, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans (In for Tendai Chatara). |
| Pakistan (Playing XI) - Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Babar Azam (C), Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim (In for Asif Ali). |
| We are all set for the action but as we have seen before, it will be national anthems first. It will be Zimbabwe's first followed by Pakistan's. |
| Done with pre-match formalities, it is time for action. The players are out in the middle. Regis Chakabva and Craig Ervine to open for Zimbabwe. Shaheen Afridi to start with the ball. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : Shaheen Afridi to Wesley Madhevere, Wesley Madhevere and Zimbabwe are underway straightaway! Three to start the innings. How rare is that? Do not remember a batter getting off with three runs last. Such is the ground here, you may see quite a few threes. Afridi goes for a yorker but ends up serving a full toss, this is clipped through square leg for three. |
| 0.2 : Shaheen Afridi to Craig Ervine, Two more! Ervine is off the mark too. One more delivery on the pads, Shaheen probably looking to shape it away from leg but this goes on with the angle. It is worked over square leg for a couple. |
| 0.3 : Shaheen Afridi to Craig Ervine, Leading edge but safe! Length and on middle, Ervine looks to work it on the leg side but this one holds its line. It goes off the leading edge down to third man for one. |
| 0.4 : Shaheen Afridi to Wesley Madhevere, FOUR! That is wonderful, just wonderful timing! Afridi goes fuller and on off, no swing for him. This is pushed down the ground, the straight boundaries are small and this races away to the fence. |
| 0.5 : Shaheen Afridi to Wesley Madhevere, FOUR! To the left of Azam at mid off this time! This is even better and Zimbabwe are off to a flier. Fuller again and on off, Wesley Madhevere shows the full face of the bat and creams it through extra cover. Shaheen is not getting swing, he needs to drag his length back. |
| 0.6 : Shaheen Afridi to Wesley Madhevere, He does and that is a dot to end! Length and outside off, left alone. A really good first over for Zimbabwe. |
| Naseem Shah to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : Naseem Shah to Craig Ervine, FOUR! Slapped away! It is raining boundaries here! On a length and outside off, Craig Ervine stands tall and slaps it through covers for another boundary. |
| 1.2 : Naseem Shah to Craig Ervine, FOUR! Make that three in a row! This is timing wonderfully agai! On middle, Craig Ervine clips it past mid-wicket. This one also races away to the fence. Pakistan under pressure earlier on here. |
| 1.3 : Naseem Shah to Craig Ervine, That is a beauty! Drags his length back, bowls it on off and angles it away. Ervine looks to defend but is beaten. |
| 1.4 : Naseem Shah to Craig Ervine, Uppish but does not carry! Length and on off, Ervine looks to drive it on the up, he does so uppishly but on the bounce to mid off. |
| 1.5 : Naseem Shah to Craig Ervine, Three dots in a row! On off, this is guided to point. |
| 1.6 : Naseem Shah to Craig Ervine, A single to end! A good comeback then by the bowler after going for two boundaries on the first two balls. Outside off, this is guided down to third man for one. |
| 2.1 : Mohammad Wasim to Craig Ervine, WIDE! This is short and very wide outside off. Craig Ervine goes after it but misses. The Pakistan bowlers have just not started well. |
| Mohammad Wasim to Craig Ervine, This is a good delivery! This starts outside off and then comes back in, slightly shorter. Ervine looks to cut but not enough room to play that shot. He ends up chopping it to the keeper. |
| 2.2 : Mohammad Wasim to Craig Ervine, Some movement for Wasim again! On middle, this one comes back in. Extra bounce too. Ervine works it on the leg side by taking one hand off the handle. A run taken. |
| 2.4 : Mohammad Wasim to Craig Ervine, Outside off, this is guided down to third man for one. |
| 2.3 : Mohammad Wasim to Wesley Madhevere, That has hit Wesley Madhevere! Might have hurt him! This is banged in short and on middle, Wesley Madhevere looks to pull but takes his eyes off the ball. It goes off the top edge, hits the body and then falls just beside the stumps. A run taken. Leg bye given. There may have been no top edge there. |
| 2.5 : Mohammad Wasim to Wesley Madhevere, FOUR! Poor ball and put away! This is short and wide outside off, asking to be hit. Wesley Madhevere cuts it past point and this races away to the fence. |
| 2.6 : Mohammad Wasim to Wesley Madhevere, A dot to end! A testing over by Wasim but till, a productive one for Zimbabwe. On off, this shapes away. Wesley Madhevere hangs his bat out and is beaten. |
| 3.1 : Naseem Shah to Craig Ervine, Two more! Pakistan continue to go full! No swing on this one again. It is hit towards mid off. Azam dives to his left and makes a good half stop. Two taken. |
| 3.2 : Naseem Shah to Craig Ervine, That is a good stop again! On the pads, Ervine flicks it towards short fine leg. Wasim dives to his left and saves three for his side. |
| 3.3 : Naseem Shah to Wesley Madhevere, This is wayward! Down the leg side. Wesley lets it be. Wided. |
| Naseem Shah to Wesley Madhevere, Good length and on off, Wesley guides it to point. This is where they need to bowl more. |
| 3.4 : Naseem Shah to Wesley Madhevere, Tip and run! On off, this is pushed towards cover for a quick run. |
| 3.5 : Naseem Shah to Craig Ervine, Outside off, Ervine opens the face of the bat and guides it down to third man for one. |
| 3.6 : Naseem Shah to Wesley Madhevere, WIDE! Another extra! Down the leg side. Wesley Madhevere looks to pull but misses. |
| Naseem Shah to Wesley Madhevere, The extra ball does not cost Pakistan! On a length and around off, this is pushed to cover. |
| 4.1 : Haris Rauf to Craig Ervine, Good stop in the end! Length and on off, Ervine guides it towards point. Shadab dives to his right and makes a good stop. |
| 4.2 : Haris Rauf to Craig Ervine, On the pads, Craig Ervine looks to flick but misses. It hits the pad and rolls towards short fine leg. A run taken. |
| 4.3 : Haris Rauf to Wesley Madhevere, On off, Wesley Madhevere pushes it towards cover for one. |
| 4.4 : Haris Rauf to Craig Ervine, Two mor! On the pads, this is clipped nicely towards deep square leg. The fielder runs to his right and keeps it down to two. |
| 4.5 : Haris Rauf to Craig Ervine, Really nice bounce there! Short and outside off, this one keeps on rising. Ervine looks to cut but is beaten. |
| 4.6 : Haris Rauf to Craig Ervine, OUT! TAKEN! That is a fine catch and Rauf, who has been the go-to man for Pakistan, strikes in his first over and breaks the stand that was going along so nicely. This is short and fast on middle, Ervine looks to pull, he probably tries to pull as he is late in getting out of the way. He is not watching the ball while doing so. It goes off the top edge towards short fine leg. Wasim runs back and takes it nicely. |
| 5.1 : Mohammad Wasim to Wesley Madhevere, WIDE! Another extra! Short and down the leg side. Wesley Madhevere looks to pull but misses. |
| Mohammad Wasim to Wesley Madhevere, Gets his line right this time! Slightly shorter and on the body. Wesley Madhevere hangs back and defends again. |
| 5.2 : Mohammad Wasim to Wesley Madhevere, A HUGE APPEAL FOR LBW BUT TURNED DOWN! Pakistan review but it seems high! OUT! THREE REDS! Did not see that coming, the way it is bouncing here, it seemed like it would go over! It though is hitting off and that is a really good review from Pakistan. They have both the openers in quick succession now. This is on a length and around off, this lands and skids through. Wesley Madhevere shuffles across and looks to flick but misses to get hit near the knee ro |
| 5.3 : Mohammad Wasim to Sean Williams, FOUR! A gift for Williams to get off the mark and he takes full toll of it. This is short and outside off, Williams goes after it, it goes more off the top edge wide of the fielder at third man and into the fence. |
| 5.4 : Mohammad Wasim to Sean Williams, This is short and on middle, this one skids through. Sean Williams pulls but it goes off the splice to mid on. He was beaten for pace there. |
| 5.5 : Mohammad Wasim to Sean Williams, That is hit hard but to the fielder! Shorter and outside off, Williams cuts but to point. |
| 5.6 : Mohammad Wasim to Sean Williams, Three dots to end! On off, this is pushed to cover. Pakistan have done well to pull things back in the Powerplay. Zimbabwe are 47 for 2. |
| 6.1 : Shaheen Afridi to Milton Shumba, Length and around off, this is guided down to third man for one. |
| 6.2 : Shaheen Afridi to Sean Williams, BEATEN! This is on a length and outside off, this one holds its line a little. Sean Williams looks to push at it but is beaten. |
| 6.3 : Shaheen Afridi to Sean Williams, That is a beauty! Wow! Shaheen goes wide of the crease and angles it into the off pole. This lands and moves away. Williams is beaten as he looks to play it on the leg side. It goes over the off pole. |
| 6.4 : Shaheen Afridi to Sean Williams, Leading edge but safe! Angled into middle, Williams looks to work it on the leg side. It goes off the leading edge but lands just ahead of Shaheen who runs after the ball. |
| 6.5 : Shaheen Afridi to Sean Williams, Shorter and on middle, this is pulled through square leg for one. |
| 6.6 : Shaheen Afridi to Milton Shumba, That is a top over from Shaheen! Milton Shumba steps out and looks to go over mid off. Shaheen drags his length back. This lands and moves away. Goes past the outside edge. |
| 7.1 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, On off, this is pushed down to long off for one. |
| 7.3 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, On middle, this is worked down to long on for one more. |
| 7.2 : Shadab Khan to Milton Shumba, Another single as this is pushed down to long off. |
| 7.4 : Shadab Khan to Milton Shumba, Shorter and on middle, this is worked to mid-wicket. |
| 7.5 : Shadab Khan to Milton Shumba, Shorter and on the pads, this is pulled to short fine leg. The fielder misfields but it is just the one. |
| 7.6 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, That goes just over the off pole. The extra bounce saves Williams! Tosses it up outside off, Williams looks to play the slog sweep but misses. It goes over the off pole. Pakistan continue to keep it tight. |
| 8.1 : Shaheen Afridi to Milton Shumba, Goes for a yorker but ends up serving a full toss, this is worked to mid-wicket. Another dot. |
| 8.2 : Shaheen Afridi to Milton Shumba, FOUR! Short and pulled away! On middle, this is dragged over the mid-wicket fielder and into the fence. Welcome boundary. This will release a little bit of pressure. |
| 8.3 : Shaheen Afridi to Milton Shumba, Fuller and on off, this is pushed towards mid off for one. |
| 8.4 : Shaheen Afridi to Sean Williams, Overthrow and an extra run! On off, this is pushed through covers. They go for one. The throw hits the stumps at the keeper's end and deflects away from the fielder backing up. One more taken. |
| 8.5 : Shaheen Afridi to Sean Williams, DROPPED! That should have bee taken! This is short and on middle, Williams pulls, it goes more off the splice towards mid-wicket. Iftikhar Ahmed dives to his left but spills it. One taken. Shaheen would have loved that wicket. He is wicket-less since the time he has returned and that would have lifted his spirit. |
| 8.6 : Shaheen Afridi to Milton Shumba, That has taken off! Length and on middle, this one gets big on the batter. Shumba looks to fend at it, it goes off the splice and lands safe on the off side. |
| 9.1 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, Two! On the pads, this is worked through square leg for two. |
| 9.3 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, This is swept through mid-wicket for one. |
| 9.4 : Shadab Khan to Milton Shumba, OUT! TAKEN! Caught and bowled! That is nicely taken! Really good from Shadab Khan! This is tossed up on off, Milton Shumba looks to push at it, this one holds in the surface a touch. It goes uppishly to the right of the bowler who takes it. |
| 9.2 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, On off, this is pushed to cover. |
| 9.5 : Shadab Khan to Sikandar Raza, Raza is off the mark! A full toss on the pads, this is pushed down to long on for one. |
| 9.6 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, Two more! On off, this is hit over cover for two. |
| 10.1 : Haris Rauf to Sikandar Raza, Length and outside off. Raza looks to push but misses. |
| 10.2 : Haris Rauf to Sikandar Raza, On a length and on middle. Blocked out. |
| 10.3 : Haris Rauf to Sikandar Raza, Three dots now! lovely bowling! Short in length and on top of middle. Raza gets inside the line to push but again misses. |
| 10.4 : Haris Rauf to Sikandar Raza, Make it four! Rauf serves a bouncer now on middle. Raza ducks under it. |
| 10.5 : Haris Rauf to Sikandar Raza, Length and on middle, pushed straight to mid off. Can Rauf end with a dot? |
| 10.6 : Haris Rauf to Sikandar Raza, FOUR LEG BYES! Length ball, sliding down. Raza misses his flick and it goes off the pads to fine leg for a boundary. |
| 11.1 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, Tossed up on the pads. Williams pulls it to deep square leg for one. |
| 11.2 : Shadab Khan to Sikandar Raza, DROP AND RUN! Flatter ball, around off. Raza taps it to point for a single. |
| 11.3 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, Too full and on off, swept to mid-wicket. |
| 11.4 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, Tossed up, on leg. Williams makes room and punches it to long off for a single. |
| 11.5 : Shadab Khan to Sikandar Raza, Outside off, dabbed to short third man for a single. |
| 11.6 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, A single to end the over as this is hit to long on. |
| 12.1 : Naseem Shah to Sean Williams, Fuller ball, around off. Williams makes room and knocks it through cover for one. |
| 12.2 : Naseem Shah to Sikandar Raza, FOUR! First boundary in some four overs! On a length and outside off. Raza smashes it over covers and it races into the fence. |
| 12.3 : Naseem Shah to Sikandar Raza, This is full and around off. Raza lofts it to long on for one. |
| 12.4 : Naseem Shah to Sean Williams, FOUR! through the gap! Short and down leg. Williams pulls it behind square on the leg side for a boundary. |
| 12.5 : Naseem Shah to Sean Williams, This is full and on middle. Williams pushes it straight back on the non-striker's end. Shah failed to get a hand on it. |
| 12.6 : Naseem Shah to Sean Williams, Short in length and on middle. Williams chops it to the left of the keeper for a quick single. |
| 13.1 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, FOUR! Just short! Tossed up, outside off. Williams slog-sweeps it to deep mid-wicket. The fielder there runs to his right and forward and dives but the ball just bounces in front of him. It rolls through for a boundary. |
| 13.2 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, THREE RUNS! Well played! This is way outside off. Williams reverse hits it through cover for three runs. |
| 13.3 : Shadab Khan to Sikandar Raza, Flatter and around off, guided to point. |
| 13.4 : Shadab Khan to Sikandar Raza, Floated, outside off. Raza works it to long off for a single. |
| 13.5 : Shadab Khan to Sean Williams, OUT! BOWLED! Williams fails to connect this time! Shadab Khan bowls in line with the stumps, this is flat. Williams again goes for the switch-hit but misses it completely and the ball hits the stumps. Relief for Pakistan as Williams was just about to press the gas. |
| Regis Chakabva comes in. |
| 13.6 : Shadab Khan to Regis Chakabva, OUT! TAKEN! WHAT A CATCH! Babar Azam, take a bow! One of the best of this tournament! Just brilliant. Tossed up, outside off, spinning away. Regis Chakabva prods to defend but the ball takes the outside edge and flies to the right of first slip. Babar Azam there dives and takes a one handed stunner. The ball sticks firmly in his palms. Superb stuff. Shadab Khan ends his spell with a wicket. |
| 14.1 : Mohammad Wasim to Sikandar Raza, On a length and on middle. Raza gets a leading edge as he looks to work on the leg side. The ball falls short of mid-wicket. |
| 14.2 : Mohammad Wasim to Sikandar Raza, Outside off. Raza swings and miss. |
| 14.3 : Mohammad Wasim to Sikandar Raza, OUT! CAUGHT! Body-blow for Zimbabwe! Raza goes! Three wickets in five balls! Zimbabwe are falling apart! Wasim serves it short and rolls his fingers on it. Raza tries to clear the longest boundary as he pulls this to deep mid-wicket but hits it straight in the hands of Haris Rauf. |
| 14.4 : Mohammad Wasim to Luke Jongwe, OUT! BOWLED! Naseem Shah is on a Hat-trick now! Four wickets for no run! What a comeback from Pakistan! They have complete dominance on this game right now! Short of a length and on middle. Not quite sure what Luke Jongwe was trying to play as he bends his back and tries to ab through third man but gets a bottom edge and the ball deflects onto the stumps. |
| Brad Evans walks out. |
| 14.5 : Mohammad Wasim to Brad Evans, Wide! Anti-climatic! Serves a fuller ball down the leg side. Evans misses his flick. |
| Mohammad Wasim to Brad Evans, Wide! Again down the leg side. Wided. |
| Mohammad Wasim to Brad Evans, Full and outside off, pushed through point for a single. |
| 14.6 : Mohammad Wasim to Ryan Burl, Bangs a bouncer, outside off. Burl leaves it alone. What an over from Mohammad Wasim. What a period for Pakistan. |
| 15.1 : Shaheen Afridi to Brad Evans, A length ball, outside off. Evans has a poke at it but misses. |
| 15.2 : Shaheen Afridi to Brad Evans, On the pads, flicked behind square leg for a single. |
| 15.3 : Shaheen Afridi to Ryan Burl, Leg bye! very full and angling on the pads. Burl misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. A huge appeal for LBW but that was going down. |
| 15.4 : Shaheen Afridi to Brad Evans, Shorter and on the hips, pulled behind square leg two. |
| 15.5 : Shaheen Afridi to Brad Evans, Fuller ball, outside off. Evans drives it through covers for one. |
| 15.6 : Shaheen Afridi to Ryan Burl, A single to end the over as Burl pushes it to mid on. |
| 16.1 : Haris Rauf to Ryan Burl, Full and on off. Burl pushes it to mid on. Babar Azam is a bit too casual as he picks the ball and the batters take two. |
| 16.2 : Haris Rauf to Ryan Burl, Short in length and outside off, pulled to mid-wicket. |
| 16.3 : Haris Rauf to Ryan Burl, Short ball, outside off. Burl is hurried as he pulls it to mid on. One. |
| 16.4 : Haris Rauf to Brad Evans, Outside off, dabbed to third man for a single. |
| 16.5 : Haris Rauf to Ryan Burl, Short of a length and outside off. Burl pulls it to mid-wicket. |
| 16.6 : Haris Rauf to Ryan Burl, A bouncer now on middle. Burl misses his pull. |
| 17.1 : Naseem Shah to Brad Evans, Three runs! Zimbabwe are using the longer part well. Not a bad option as they are not able to buy some boundaries. Length and on middle. Evans smashes it to deep cover for three runs. |
| 17.2 : Naseem Shah to Ryan Burl, On middle, eased to long on for one. |
| 17.3 : Naseem Shah to Brad Evans, A yorker, just outside off. Evans jams it out to point for a single. |
| 17.4 : Naseem Shah to Ryan Burl, Shah follows Burl with the short ball on the off side. Burl looks to play behind the keeper to fine leg but misses. |
| 17.5 : Naseem Shah to Ryan Burl, Short again. Burl mistimes his pull to mid on just for one. |
| 17.6 : Naseem Shah to Brad Evans, Shah keeps bowling short. Evans pulls it to deep square leg for a single. Tidy over from Naseem Shah. |
| 18.1 : Haris Rauf to Brad Evans, A length ball, following Evans on the leg side. He swings and misses. Good start to the over. |
| 18.2 : Haris Rauf to Brad Evans, Full and on the pads, flicked to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 18.3 : Haris Rauf to Ryan Burl, DROPPED! This is full and on middle. Burl slogs it to deep mid-wicket. The fielder there probably worried more about the ropes and stumbled to take the catch. He had more yards behind than he though so. Pakistan have been not so good on the field. Haider Ali it was. |
| 18.4 : Haris Rauf to Ryan Burl, Outside off. Burl swings and misses. |
| 18.5 : Haris Rauf to Ryan Burl, Short in length and on middle. Burl swings across but gets an inside edge to square leg for a single. |
| 18.6 : Haris Rauf to Brad Evans, A yorker from Rauf, on middle. Evans jams it out on the deck. The batters cross for a quick single. Rauf misses his shy at the batter's end. A wonderful spell from Haris Rauf comes to an end. |
| 19.1 : Mohammad Wasim to Brad Evans, Very full and just around leg. Evans steps across to sweep but misses. |
| 19.2 : Mohammad Wasim to Brad Evans, SIX! Crucial runs! Much needed! Short of a length and outside off. Evans hoicks it to the longer side and clears the mid-wicket fence with ease. |
| 19.3 : Mohammad Wasim to Brad Evans, OUT! BOWLED! Mohammad Wasim strikes back! This is very full and on the base of middle and leg. Evans tries to heave but misses and the stumps are disturbed. Wasim gets his fourth wicket. |
| 19.4 : Mohammad Wasim to Richard Ngarava, Full and on the pads, flicked to deep square leg for a single. |
| 19.5 : Mohammad Wasim to Ryan Burl, A yorker on leg. Burl squeezes it out to mid-wicket for one. Can Mohammad Wasim finish with a five-fer? |
| 19.6 : Mohammad Wasim to Richard Ngarava, No five-wicket haul but an excellent spell from him! Full and on middle. Richard Ngarava pushes it to mid on and takes a couple of runs. ZIMBABWE END WITH 130. |
| That is a really good performance with the ball by Pakistan! Zimbabwe on the other hand will be very disappointed with the score they have on the board. Let me remind you, their openers were going at around 10 per over at the start. Once the first wicket fell, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and the scoring rate also got down. Rauf was absolutely brilliant along with Shadab in the middle overs. Wasim was also very impressive in his return to the side. Naseem Shah had a day off. Sha |
| For Zimbabwe, after the initial few overs, it was a struggle for all their batters. The problem for them was they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and at one time, they lost 4 for no runs at all. That killed all the hopes of them getting to a competitive total. At one stage even 120 looked far away but Evans and Burl have taken them above that and have given their bowlers something to bowl at. |
| Shadab Khan is up for a chat. He says the catch was brilliant by Babar Azam, he has not been at his best in the field but he took a stunner. States he was varying the speed and the slower he bowled, it spun. Reckons they have a top bowling unit and they needed to restrict them to a low score. |
| Right then! Not a big score and this should be an easy one for the Pakistani batters. Zimbabwe bowlers need to be sharp from the start. Stay tuned for the chase. |
| ...THE CHASE... |
| We are back for Pakistan's reply. The players are out in the middle. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam to open for Pakistan. |
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