Pakistan 303 for 6 (Ghulam 103, Shafique 50, Raza 2-47) beaten Zimbabwe 204 (Ervine 51, Bennett 37, Ayub 2-29) by 99 runs
While rain was forecast for today, the skies were clear when Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. Although they didn’t quite advance at the blistering pace they set on Tuesday, Saim Ayub and Shafique got Pakistan off to a good start, raising the partnership to 50 in 11 overs. But Ayub fell soon after missing his trademark shot as he lifted Faisal Akram over deep backward square leg, straight to Clive Madande at the boundary.
Ghulam was uncertain at first, going almost straight back to Sean Williams on his eighth ball. However, when Williams dragged one down, Ghulam hit him to deep mid-wicket for six, and that seemed to free him. Alongside Shafique, he helped Pakistan advance at a steady, if unspectacular, pace and the 100 was reached in 22 overs. Sikandar Raza broke that position soon after, trapping Shafique in front as he missed his sweep, just after reaching his half-century.
Rizwan and Ghulam combined to form the biggest partnership of the innings, but even as the batting conditions flattened out, the expected increase in scoring rate did not follow. Rizwan, in particular, managed a strike rate of just over 50 off his first 25 balls, letting Ghulam take it into high gear. He took a liking to Brian Bennett, forcing him out of the attack after taking 27 off his two overs. Zimbabwe dominated the visitors again with Williams and Akram before Raza gave his side the breakthrough. Rizwan had bowled him for six on an error, and when he tried again off the next delivery, Dion Myers took a simple catch.
Ghulam, by now, reached three figures. Akram was sent for successive boundaries before a long hop from Raza was put away at mid-wicket to bring up the ton. Zimbabwe finally threatened to accelerate, but Richard Ngarava took out Ghulam immediately afterwards to try to catch them.
It was in 46th place that the wheels finally came off for Zimbabwe. Akram saw six wides, a no-ball, two fours and a six as 23 came out, and Pakistan suddenly looked at 300. Even Blessing Muzarabani was not spared, taken for 24 in his two final overs as Pakistan got away with it. 300, taking all the momentum with them to the break.
Pakistan had to wait until the third over to strike, which they did twice in Ayub’s match. Joylord Gumbie and Myers each attempted to keep the run rate high, and it was an approach that Zimbabwe persisted with even as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Tadiwanashe Marumani didn’t last long but was belligerent for as long as he did, and was unlucky to be awarded leg before Abrar Ahmed, with the ball probably going down leg. Sean Williams briefly took over, turning the attack on Agha Salman and Abrar after the first powerplay ended, while Ervine slapped Haris Rauf for a pair of boundaries in what appeared to be a menacing partnership for Pakistan .
But, like any Zimbabwean partnership, it ended far too soon for them to exert real pressure. Williams was overtaken by Haris’ extra pace as he passed, and that would mark the start of a Zimbabwean slide.
Pakistan’s biggest scare was due to the sudden convergence of clouds before the end of the 20th over, but on the field, wickets were starting to fall in clusters. Zimbabwe were still redefining their boundaries just about everywhere, with Ervine bringing up his half-century with an unwelcome sweep from Faisal Akram.
But the end was near for him. He was reprieved when Tayyab Tahir bombed the simplest chance through mid-wicket, but Aamer Jamal was not denied, prompting him to drag out a short delivery later in the over. He backed it up by dismissing Raza in his follow-up, Zimbabwe looked to be on the receiving end of a huge defeat.
Those blushes were somewhat spared by an entertaining attack from Bennett, who took on the spinners to great effect in a thrilling display that kept the Bulawayo faithful engaged. It didn’t last, however, and when he deceived Abrar Ahmed after a 27-ball 37, any realistic hopes harbored by the hosts disappeared.
Clive Madande and Ngarava persevered for a while and helped Zimbabwe cross the 200 mark and keep the defeat in double digits. But Pakistan would not be denied an emphatic victory, with Faisal Akram and Rauf removing the last two consecutive balls either side of the 40th over to make the victory official.
Danyal Rasool is the Pakistan correspondent for PK Press Club. @Danny61000
