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So that will be all from our coverage of this contest. Quite a stunning start to the ECI Sweden 2023 and there's plenty more action lined up so do make sure to stay on track with the same right here on Sportskeeda. For the moment, this is Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. Thank you so much for tuning in. See you around soon - buh-bye and enjoy your weekend!
Match Summary: Sweden beat Estonia by 9 wickets.
Imal Zuwak 74* (17) | Zaker Taqawi 2/17 (2) Saif Ur Rehman 32 (14) | Richard Parkin 1/43 (2)
Blink and you miss. That was the story of this chase from Sweden. It was a proper annihilation and a good old-fashioned hammering that they've dished out to the Estonian team, who will be hurting big time. More so having got off to a flyer themselves with the bat, only to muster a total of 98 which was always going to be challenging to defend against a batting lineup as dangerous as Sweden's.
That Share Ali didn't even have a big say in this chase just tells you how ridiculously easy Imal Zuwak made it look. He dispatched the first two deliveries he faced to the fence and meant business from the outset. There was just no stopping him as he picked out the fence and cleared it at will, with every bowler in sight bearing his wrath.
If Share's wicket gave Estonia hope, it was doused soon after with Zuwak simply butchering the ball to all corners. Abu Zar gave him very good company and played a couple of outstanding shots of his own but it was Zuwak who bossed the show, racing away to a 12-ball half-century that put the game way beyond the Estonians. A collective 63 runs came off the third and fourth over as Sweden waltzed their way to the target without breaking a sweat, with Zuwak fittingly having the final say as he finished it off with a maximum.
This result sees Sweden get off to a winning start of some kind with their net run-rate also soaring to a massive extent. Estonia will leave this contest a wounded lot but they have to pick themselves up with plenty of games lined up for them to make amends.
Did you expect a finish that was any different? A fitting end to what has been a ridiculous chase from Sweden and gosh, what a start they've made to the tournament!
4.2 Kalle Vislappu to Imal Zuwak, SIX! FINISHES IN STYLE! Full outside the off stump with enough room on offer. Zuwak sits low and slices it up and over backward point as it travels the full distance and brings the 100 up for his side. This has been some knock and some chase - Sweden win by 9 wickets with 34 deliveries to spare!
4.2 Kalle Vislappu to Imal Zuwak, WIDE! Full and spilled just down the leg-side. Zuwak lets it pass to the keeper
4.1 Kalle Vislappu to Abu Zar, full at the stumps. Zar works it down to long on to bring Zuwak on strike
Kalle Vislappu comes into the attack
Rub your eyes all you want but this stat is true - 63 runs have come off the last two overs. Yes. 63. Someone must have told Imal Zuwak that this is a five-over chase because we're almost done with it. Just one hit away from victory are Sweden!
4
overs
93/1score
4
6
6
6
4
6
runs
Imal Zuwak*
68(16)
Abu Zar
16(5)
Richard Parkin
1/43
3.6 Richard Parkin to Imal Zuwak, SIX MORE! 32 off the over! Another one in the arc outside the off stump. Asking for trouble as Zuwak stands tall and swings a mile behind square on the leg-side. Go retrieve that back from well beyond the ropes!
3.5 Richard Parkin to Imal Zuwak, FOUR BYES! It's coming apart appallingly now! Back of a length delivery outside the off stump. A hint of awkward bounce which deceives the keeper as Zuwak heaves across the line without connecting. The ball then trickles down and beats deep fine leg for four
3.4 Richard Parkin to Imal Zuwak, SIX MORE! THE CARNAGE CONTINUES! Slot delivery outside the off stump and that's asking for trouble. Zuwak stands tall and uses his long levers to launch a towering missile which long off can only watch soaring over his head
Out of words to describe this knock. Truly special from Imal Zuwak!
3.3 Richard Parkin to Imal Zuwak, SIX MORE! FIFTY FOR ZUWAK! Short in length outside the off stump and that is a gift for this man in this form. He stands tall and clubs a pull way over the square leg fence for half-a-dozen. What an astounding knock this has been!
3.2 Richard Parkin to Imal Zuwak, SIX! BOOM! Length delivery with plenty of width. Zuwak reaches for it and flays it flat over the covers to send it traveling the full distance
3.1 Richard Parkin to Imal Zuwak, FOUR! GOOD EFFORT BUT ALAS IN VAIN! Full around the off stump and Zuwak swings down the ground towards the straight long on fence. Long off charges across to his right and manages to stop the ball with a leap. Alas, his feet are in contact with the boundary at the same time
31 runs off the over! If you thought Estonia were brilliant in the powerplay, Sweden have fared even better. Both Zar and Zuwak have just been imperious with their strokeplay and this could be over before we know it.
3
overs
61/1score
6
6
0
1wd
6
4
2wd
6
runs
Abu Zar*
16(5)
Imal Zuwak
36(10)
Bilal Masud
0/31
2.6 Bilal Masud to Abu Zar, SIX! SHOT OF THE DAY! Around the wicket goes Masud but he dishes it out in the slot and offers plenty of width. Zar comes forward and carves it nonchalantly over the covers as it sails over the ropes for six
2.6 Bilal Masud to Imal Zuwak, WIDE! Full and angling down the leg-side past the batter's attempted tickle. The keeper fumbles and the batters manage to swap ends as a result