PERTH: Zimbabwean bowlers produced a remarkable performance and powered their side to defend a paltry total to upset Pakistan in the third match of today’s tripleheader in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
Set to chase a paltry 131, Pakistan fell just one run short of victory as they could amass 129/8 in their quota of 20 overs.
The Green Shirts had a poor start to their run chase as the side lost both their key batters – Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan – cheaply inside the first power-play for four and 14 respectively.
Iftikhar Ahmed then partnered briefly with Shan Masood for the third wicket and added 13 runs for the third wicket before the former fell victim to Luke Jongwe in the eighth over.
Following his dismissal, Shan joined hands with Shadab Khan and stitched a valiant 52-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
The vital partnership between Shan and Shadab seemed to have put Pakistan in command as they cruised to 80/3 in 13 overs before Sikandar Raza struck for his first to provide the all-important breakthrough to his side.
Shadab fell after scoring 17 off 14 with the help of a six.
Coming at number six, Haider Ali bagged a golden duck and caused Pakistan to stutter at 88/5 in the 14th over.
Shan, who was playing the anchoring role, could not carry his bat till the end and fell to Zimbabwe’s key all-rounder Raza in the 16th over. He top-scored for his side with a gritty 44 off 38, laced with three boundaries.
Following the slump, Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr put on an important partnership for the seventh wicket and added 34 runs.
Amid their seventh-wicket stand, Pakistan were looking favourites to clinch the victory but Nawaz’s dismissal in the final over brought Zimbabwe back into the game. He could score 22 off 18.
Pakistan then needed three runs on the last delivery and Wasim Jr punched the ball down the ground but sharp work in the deep by the Zimbabwean fielder barred them from taking two runs and force the match to go into the super over.
Pakistan, consequently, could score 129/8 in 20 overs and endured an upset defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe by just one run.
Raza was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe as he bagged three wickets for 25, while Brad Evans claimed two. Blessing Muzarabani and Jongwe struck out a batter each.
Batting first, Zimbabwe could manage to score 130/8 in their quota of 20 overs despite their opener providing a flying start.
Zimbabwean opening pair of Wessley Madhevere and Craig Ervine charged Pakistan bowlers right from the start and added 38 runs in just four overs.
Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf then struck in his first over to break the flourishing partnership and hand Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough as he removed Ervine for 19.
Madhevere’s stay also remained brief at the crease and perished in the next over as Mohammad Wasim Jr trapped him in his legs for 17.
Sean Williams then attempted to anchor the innings with a gritty knock of 31 and stitched two vital partnerships for his side with Milton Shumba and Sikandar Raza respectively.
Shadab Khan, however, put an end to Williams’ inning in the 10th over as he castled the latter for 31. He faced 28 deliveries and smashed three boundaries.
Following Williams’ departure, Zimbabwe ran into a frustrating collapse as the side lost four wickets in a span of just five deliveries and slipped to 95/7 in the 15th over.
Ryan Burl and Brad Evans then stood up for their team and stitched a vital 31-run partnership for the eighth wicket to guide Zimbabwe to a comparatively decent total of 130/8 in 20 overs.
Evans scored 19 before falling to Wasim Jr in the final over, while Burl remained unbeaten on 10.
Mohammad Wasim Jr led the bowling attack for Pakistan as he returned with astounding figures of 4/24, while Shadab bagged three. Haris, on the other hand, made one scalp.
