It's a scorcher here. Absolutely clear skies. It's 28 degrees but feels like 40. The shortest part is behind me at around 60 meters. The pitches have improved. It's almost a perfect pitch. I am salivating (Sohail)! Perfect batting track but there would be something for spinners. 180 would be a good first-innings score.
VENUE STATS
1st Innings
155Avg Runs
7Avg Wkts
129.83Avg
SR
2nd Innings
130Avg Runs
7Avg Wkts
113.14Avg
SR
Weather Update
Weather Update
Bulawayo,Zimbabwe
Updated: 01 Dec 20:00
28.1°CClear
clear sky
5%
Clouds
0%
Rain %
20%
Humidity
16.3 kmph
Wind
Playing XILineups Out
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Head To Head
(Last 10 Matches)
Head To Head
(Last 10 Matches)
ZIM
2-
7
PAK
Team Form
(Recent 5 Matches, Latest First)
Team Form
(Recent 5 Matches, Latest First)
Zimbabwe
W
W
W
W
W
Match 14•Oct 24•ICC Men's T20 WC Africa Sub Regional Qualifier B
Experts are creating their teams, watch this space
Expert Team 1
S Raza
A Salman
Expert Team 2
S Raza
H Rauf
Venue Details
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
It's a scorcher here. Absolutely clear skies. It's 28 degrees but feels like 40. The shortest part is behind me at around 60 meters. The pitches have improved. It's almost a perfect pitch. I am salivating (Sohail)! Perfect batting track but there would be something for spinners. 180 would be a good first-innings score.
The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
Pakistan take a 1-0 lead with a big win here. Two more matches to come at the same venue, the next one will be on Tuesday and we will be there with you with all the live action. For now, this is Sourabh and Rudransh taking your leave from here. See you soon!
Agha Salman (Pakistan captain): The way we started with the bat, the way we finished and the way we bowled, complete performance, really happy. It is going to be like this in the next game as well. The ball does not come on really well but we planned like that. The ball was not coming on in the first 12-13 overs, even in the last 4-5 overs but the way Tayyab and Niazi batted, excellent. It is really pleasing to see that, the way the youngsters ae coming and performing.
Tayyab Tahir is the Player of the Match, here's what he has to say: We were watching our openers, they could hit the ball on the up. It was difficult in the middle-overs. We thought among ourselves that we'll play all the overs and that if we can't hit the sixes, we'll run.
Sikander Raza (Zimbabwe captain): Certainly, to leak 40-odd runs in the last two overs... we lost all the momentum. Then, 90-odd for two or three wickets and then that collapse is a hard pill to swallow. These are the things you correct in the nets. It's very crucial for us to hit the pockets for singles and doubles when we can't hit the boundaries. I believe we have the guys to put their hands up and do that. (On his personal good performances) We were looking to win the game, to be honest, you think about winning the game from 90/3 but then to be all-out like that... We'll try and do better. It's not the hamstring, it's the age catching up. It's holding pretty nicely. The doctor helped. I have a fitness test tomorrow.
Time for the post match presentations!
16:44 Local Time (20:14 IST): Pakistan win by 57 runs and take a 1-0 lead
From 77/2, Zimbabwe have imploded and have been bowled out for 108 losing their last 8 wickets for just 31 runs
The run-chase looked good for the first half of it and it seemed as if Zimbabwe would have a genuine shot at this with skipper Raza and opener Marumani in the middle looking pretty comfortable. But then, Marumani was run-out when the pair tried to steal an overthrow and then things came tumbling down for Zimbabwe who absolutely capitulated once again.
Big credit needs to be given to Pakistan bowlers and fielders who despite being hit all around the park in the powerplay held their nerves and came back nicely. It was a sedate start to the chase with 12 runs off the first two overs and then Abrar Ahmed struck twice in the third over removing Bennett and Myers. Zimbabwe fought fire with fire as Marumani slaughtered Jahandad for 21 in the next over and the run chase was well and truly on.
Raza joined in too and started playing his shots, they got to 70 at the end of 7 overs with Raza facing a hamstring issue. The runs were kept down in the next couple of overs and the run-out happened which started it all. As soon as Marumani went, there was simply no support at the other end for a hobbling Raza who eventually was dismissed in the 13th over.
The rest of the batters were simply not good enough and the Pakistan bowlers, including spinners Sufiyan and Abrar who got 3 wickets a piece and Haris Rauf who got 2, ran through the others in no time and Pakistan came out of the match with a big 57-run win.
15.3 Abrar Ahmed to Trevor Gwandu, oh, he plays all around this one and there's a small stumping inquiry. Was on a length outside off and beat his outside edge. The 'keeper has done well to whip off the bails but there wasn't much confidence from anyone else.
This looks close, Gwandu seems like he has fallen a centimetre short in bringing his back-leg back. OUT READS THE BIG SCREEN! Zimbabwe all-out for 108 and lose by 57 runs!
Trevor Gwandu st Usman Khan b Abrar Ahmed 0 (5b, 0x4, 0x6)
15.2 Abrar Ahmed to Trevor Gwandu, floated outside off, driven to covers
15.1 Abrar Ahmed to Tashinga Musekiwa, on a length on middle and leg, knocked down the ground
Slip in
Abrar Ahmed [3.0-0-27-2] is back
Lots of glum faces in the Zimbabwe dressing room. They were in a position of strength and now they are on the brink of a big loss
15
overs
107/9score
4
1
W
0
0
0
runs
Trevor Gwandu*
0(3)
Tashinga Musekiwa
8(10)
Haris Rauf
2/17
14.6 Haris Rauf to Trevor Gwandu, on a length on middle and off, blocked more comfortably
14.5 Haris Rauf to Trevor Gwandu, slower one wide outside off, Gwandu thinks about chasing it but pulls out
14.4 Haris Rauf to Trevor Gwandu, shortish on off, raises his bat high to defend it
Trevor Gwandu, RHB, to face the music next
The leg-stump goes for a walk! You expected only one thing with Muzarabani facing Rauf and the speedster has done it on the first ball. A sight to behold for any fast bowler, Pakistan on the brink!
14.3 Haris Rauf to Blessing Muzarabani, BOWLS HIM! Nine down Zimbabwe! Full and straight, high on pace. Muzarabani plays for the angle in front of his leg stump while standing stagnant. He doesn't even touch it as the ball seams just enough to beat his outside edge for the stumps
Blessing Muzarabani b Haris Rauf 0(1b, 0x4, 0x6).
14.2 Haris Rauf to Tashinga Musekiwa, full and straight again, clipped to the fielder this time
Video
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S Raza
A Salman
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Trevor Gwandu
*
Haris Rauf
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
