Zimbabwe stun Pakistan in Super Over to win the 3rd ODI
Zimbabwe played some brilliant cricket to defeat Pakistan in
the 3rd One-day international played at Rawalpindi Stadium,
Rawalpindi on Tuesday. With this win, Zimbabwe earned their first points in the
ICC Men’s Super League tournament.
Zimbabwe captain Chimu Chibhabha won the toss and decided to
bat first. It was not an ideal start for the visitors as Mohammad Hasnain got
rid of Brian Chari, Craig Ervine, and Chibhabha to leave Zimbabwe in big trouble
at 22 for 3. The experienced duo of Brendon Taylor and Sean Williams played remained
steady and ended the first 10 overs at 23 for 3.
Taylor and Williams counter-attacked with positive strokes
putting pressure on Pakistan bowlers. It was a good batting display by the experienced
duo maintaining the pace. Taylor completed his fifty off 64 balls. Hasnain was
bought into the attack and broke the partnership getting rid of Taylor with a
simple catch to Khusdil Shah at extra cover. Taylor and Williams added 84 runs
for the 4th wicket. After the fall of Taylor’s wicket, Williams
remained cautious while Madhevere played with intent keeping the scoreboard
ticking.
Williams took on Iftikhar Ahmed and reached his fifty in style
off 81 balls. Madhevere showed his class and hit lovely boundaries keeping the
momentum going. Hasnain provided a much-needed breakthrough for Pakistan getting
rid of Madhevere with a simple return catch to the bowler. Madhevere and
Williams added 75 runs for the 5th wicket. Williams was dropped by Muhammad
Musa at third man.
Sikander Raza struggled initially but then took on the Pakistan
bowlers. Sean Williams showed his class and reached his 4th ODI
century off 126 balls. It was a superb batting display by Williams and Raza who
hit some lovely boundaries in death overs. Wahab Riaz dismissed Raza in the
last over. Raza and Williams added 96 runs for the 6th wicket.
Zimbabwe recovered brilliantly to post 278 for 6 in 50 overs.
Chasing 279 runs to win, Pakistan got off the worst possible
start as Imam UL Haq, Fakhar Zaman went cheaply in the first two overs with
great deliveries from Ngarava and Muzarabani. Haider Ali hit some cracking
strokes before Ngarava produced another good delivery. Babar Azam showed his class
with lovely boundaries to put some pressure on Zimbabwe bowlers. At the end of
the first 10 overs, Pakistan scored 46 for 3.
Mohammad Rizwan looked out of sorts with his timing.
Tiripano got rid of Rizwan hitting the inside edge onto the stumps to leave
Pakistan in trouble at 51 for 4. Iftikhar Ahmed and Babar Azam tried to rescue innings
by taking singles and hitting boundaries off bad balls. Tiripano struck again
to dismiss Ahmed with another good delivery to leave Pakistan in massive
trouble at 88 for 5.
Babar Azam looked solid as ever while Khusdil Shah playing
his maiden ODI match showed his class and kept the scoreboard ticking. Babar
completed his fifty off 63 balls. A superb catch by Brendon Taylor ended the
innings for Shah. Shah and Babar added 63 runs for the 6th wicket.
Wahab Riaz came to the crease and gave most of the strike to
Babar. It was good batting by Babar who kept on taking singles and hitting
boundaries. After the initial struggle, Wahab opened his shoulders making life
tough for Zimbabwe bowlers. Babar completed his century off 105 balls. Wahab
also completed his half-century off 52 balls. Muzabrani got the vital
breakthrough for Zimbabwe getting rid of well-set Wahab with a good running
catch by Williams at long-on. Riaz and Babar added 100 runs for the 7th
wicket.
The match went right down the wire as Muzabarani got the
wickets of Shaheen Shah Afridi and well-set Babar Azam to leave Pakistan requiring
13 runs off final over.
Muhammad Musa and Hasnain kept the Pakistani hopes alive.
With 5 runs required off the final ball, Musa hit a boundary to make the match into Super
Over.
In the Super Over, Muzarabani picked the wickets of Iftikhar
Ahmed and Khusdil Shah to give Zimbabwe a target of just 3 runs. Brendon Taylor
and Sikander Raza did the job for Zimbabwe as they registered a famous win.
Zimbabwe 278 for 6 in 50 overs ( Sean Williams 118*, Brendon
Taylor 56, Hasnain 5/26) and 3 for 0 in 0.3 overs ( Sikander Raza 2*, Taylor 1*)
beat Pakistan 278 for 9 in 50 overs ( Babar Azam 125, Wahab Riaz 52, Muzarabani
5/49, Tiripano 2/39) and 2 for 2 in 0.4 overs ( Khusdil Shah 1, Muzarabani 2/2)
in Super Over.
For his 7 wickets in the match, Blessing Muzarbani was awarded
the man of the match award. Pakistan won the 3 matches ODI Series 2-1.
Zimbabwe stuns Pakistan in the 3rd ODI to register first points in the Super League stage.
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