Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
20 | 6 Runs | ZIM: 136/5 (26 runs required, RR: 6.80)

  • Malcolm Waller14 (7b)
  • Brendan Taylor32 (30b)
  • Sohail Tanvir4-0-23-0
  • Saeed Ajmal4-0-30-0

Zimbabwe began well with Masakadza and Sibanda posting a fifty-run partnership. But when Pakistan's spinners came on and pace was denied on the ball, Zimbabwe resorted to the sweep a little too much. Brendan Taylor looked to hold one end up, but he was always chasing the run-rate as wickets fell around him. Afridi proved his worth with the ball again, picking up three important wickets, two of them in the same over to all but seal the game for Pakistan. In the end Zimbabwe were 25 runs short. Stay with us for the presentation.

Amit: "Taylor coming one down and facing only 26 balls has effected a lot to the team. He should have faced a lot of balls to win the match."

Anurag: "I am not sure why Zim sent Chigumbura after Maruma

ZCFOutkast: "Flipping our batting order wouldn't have been a bad idea. A few lusty blows from Shing&Vitori would've gotten us going early on!

Shahid Afridi collects the Player of the Match for his 23 off 16 balls and his 3 for 25

Ahmed Shehzad picks up the Man-of-the-Match cheque for his 70 off 50 balls and said, "It was doing a little bit early on, thats why Zimbabwe picked up those early wickets. But the ball came on a little easier as the game got on and we were looking to lay a good foundation because we knew we had a big hitter like Shahid Afridi in the line-up and with our bowling we knew we could defend our total"

Mohammad Hafeez said he was happy with the win, considering it was the start of a new series but was quick to say it was already in the past and the boys had to look at the next game which will decide the series. He also shared team-mate Shehzad's confidence that his bowling would be able to defend a 150+ total and added that the team had also fielded very well.

Brian Vitori said the team stuck to their plans well, but against world-class spinners like Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal, they were found out. He added that Zimbabwe had conceded a few too many extras, which probably "killed it" for them with the ball, but they were comfortable with the target they had Pakistan had put up. He said Zimabwe needed to learn quickly and that was part of playing international cricket and believed they can improve in the nex game. So that's all wrapped up. Join us again tomorrow for the second T20 same time, same place. This is Alagappan Muthu saying goodnight for now.

19.6
1
Sohail Tanvir to Waller, 1 run, Full and on off. Taylor drives it to cover and scampers off for a single. The fielder hits the stumps, but its all over. Pakistan win
19.5
1lb
Sohail Tanvir to Taylor, 1 leg bye, Deceived by pace. Taylor was into the pull shot too quickly and this short ball angled at the batsman hits him on the stomach.
19.4
1
Sohail Tanvir to Waller, 1 run, uses the angle and works it to deep midwicket
19.3
1
Sohail Tanvir to Taylor, 1 run, right in the block hole. Taylor stays leg side of it and tries to spear it through extra cover, but finds the fielder
19.2
1
Sohail Tanvir to Waller, 1 run, fullish ball, dabbed behind square on the off side
19.1
1
Sohail Tanvir to Taylor, 1 run, Angles it into the pads, and Taylor clips it off to midwicket

Tanvir to bowl the last over

END OF OVER:
19 | 13 Runs | ZIM: 130/5 (32 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.84, RRR: 32.00)

  • Malcolm Waller11 (4b)
  • Brendan Taylor30 (27b)
  • Saeed Ajmal4-0-30-0
  • Shahid Afridi4-0-25-3
18.6
6
Saeed Ajmal to Waller, SIX, and this one's even better. Waller goes down on one knee and lofts this full ball on middle is well over the long-on fence
18.5
4
Saeed Ajmal to Waller, FOUR, the reverse sweep works. Waller hits this well above the short third man fielder and gets good reward
18.4
0
Saeed Ajmal to Waller, no run, comes across and covers his stumps, but his cross bat heave to this length ball only gets air
18.3
1
Saeed Ajmal to Taylor, 1 run, flighted on the off stump and Taylor clips it into the leg side
18.2
1
Saeed Ajmal to Waller, 1 run, just a little shorter this time and Waller makes room for himself and cuts it to the covers
18.1
1
Saeed Ajmal to Taylor, 1 run, flighted outside off and Taylor slog sweeps it down to square leg

Malcom Waller is the new man

END OF OVER:
18 | 6 Runs 2 Wkts | ZIM: 117/5 (45 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.50, RRR: 22.50)

  • Brendan Taylor28 (25b)
  • Shahid Afridi4-0-25-3
  • Saeed Ajmal3-0-17-0
17.6
W
Shahid Afridi to Chigumbura, OUT, this time the slog does not work. Simple straight ball from Afridi and Chigumbura's almighty swing is useless as he looks back to see his stumps pegged back

E Chigumbura b Shahid Afridi 6 (3m 5b 1x4 0x6) SR: 120.00

17.5
2
Shahid Afridi to Chigumbura, 2 runs, comes forward and punches it to long-on
17.4
4
Shahid Afridi to Chigumbura, FOUR, slog through midwicket. This one was flighted on the stumps and Chigumbura hoiks it off to cow corner
17.3
0
Shahid Afridi to Chigumbura, no run,
17.2
0
Shahid Afridi to Chigumbura, no run, full and fast into the stumps and its met with a forward defensive
17.1
W
Shahid Afridi to Maruma, OUT, wicket straight away. Maruma comes down the track but Afridi sees him and fires it wide. Sarfraz collects it cleanly and breaks the stumps. Easily done by Pakistan

T Maruma st †Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shahid Afridi 10 (15m 13b 1x4 0x6) SR: 76.92

Afridi changes ends

END OF OVER:
17 | 7 Runs | ZIM: 111/3 (51 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.52, RRR: 17.00)

  • Timycen Maruma10 (12b)
  • Brendan Taylor28 (25b)
  • Saeed Ajmal3-0-17-0
  • Sohail Tanvir3-0-18-0
16.6
1
Saeed Ajmal to Maruma, 1 run, makes a little room to use the shortish one from Ajmal to cut through the covers
16.5
0
Saeed Ajmal to Maruma, no run, flatter ball again and Maruma remains back in his crease and pushes it back to the bowler
16.4
1
Saeed Ajmal to Taylor, 1 run, and its the reverse sweep now. Third man cuts it to a single
16.3
1
Saeed Ajmal to Maruma, 1 run, quicker and Maruma goes back and punches it down to long-on
16.2
4
Saeed Ajmal to Maruma, FOUR, Zimbabwe pledge alligence to the sweep. This one gets the top edge and runs off fine to the third man boundary
16.1
0
Saeed Ajmal to Maruma, no run, comes down the track, but Ajmal sees him and pulls the length back and Maruma can only hit it back to the bowler

END OF OVER:
16 | 9 Runs | ZIM: 104/3 (58 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 6.50, RRR: 14.50)

  • Brendan Taylor27 (24b)
  • Timycen Maruma4 (7b)
  • Sohail Tanvir3-0-18-0
  • Saeed Ajmal2-0-10-0
15.6
4
Sohail Tanvir to Taylor, FOUR, clever shot. Tanvir bangs this one in, but Taylor ramps it striaght over the keeper's head for a much needed four
  • Shehzad, spinners sink Zimbabwe

    Zimbabwe had their moments where they stretched Pakistan with a confident start in their chase of 162, but tackling the spinners in the middle overs was always going to be the bigger proposition

Zimbabwe 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st53H MasakadzaV Sibanda
2nd27V SibandaBRM Taylor
3rd9BRM TaylorSC Williams
4th22BRM TaylorT Maruma
5th6E ChigumburaBRM Taylor
6th19BRM TaylorMN Waller