END OF OVER:20 | 11 Runs | ZIM: 160/6 (20 runs required, RR: 8.00)
- Shingi Masakadza0 (1b)
- Elton Chigumbura35 (19b)
- Sohail Tanvir4-0-28-0
- Anwar Ali2-0-24-1
Presentation:
Man of the Match and the Series is Ahmed Shehzad. He's loaded tonight with cheques: "Important to be consistent and I have been trying hard at it. Myself and Hafeez wanted to bat out at least 15 overs. The ball was skidding onto the bat. They bowled well too, but they didn't have the pace to bowl the quick yorkers."
Taylor: "I think they got 20 too much, our bowlers missed the mark too many times. Quite a few starts and we can improve on the partnerships. Good to see some of our batters spending time there. Guys' confidence is a lot higher than when India was here. We have to regroup."
Hafeez: "The commitment and confidence was good. Nice to see Shehzad hold the innings in both innings, today he tried to spend more time on the pitch. We were expecting 150-160 on this pitch. We all knew that we had to work hard even defending 180, on this pitch. It was good of Ajmal to give his place to Babar, good for Pakistan cricket."
So that's it from us here today. The 1st ODI begins on Tuesday. On behalf of Alagappan, this is Kanishkaa signing off. Cheers!
End of match: Mazher Arshad excitedly gives us this stat: "This is Pakistan's 13th bilateral Twenty20 series win, the most by any team. Next is South Africa with 12 wins."
Twice in as many days Brendan Taylor won the toss and chose to bowl first, reasoning that Zimbabwe were better off chasing. He might want to revisit that theory next time. Both occasions, Zimbabwe fell short, and not by narrow margins - 25 and 19 show how comprehensive the wins were. Two maiden overs of spin really bit them in the end. They got off to a good start and despite Ajmal's absence, the batsmen couldn't get on top of the spinners.
Farhan: "I think Zimbabwe didn't play that bad in both T20s. You can only do so much, when you run into an inform team fresh from wins. Zim just needs to consolidate more, they'll get better."
Syed Masroor: "Despite Hafeez's performance with the ball and bat, Ahmed Shehzad should get the MotM award. Just because he's getting the MotS award it shouldn't handicap him."
We will find out at the presentation shortly.
END OF OVER:19 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | ZIM: 149/6 (31 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.84, RRR: 31.00)
- Elton Chigumbura24 (14b)
- Shingi Masakadza0 (0b)
- Anwar Ali2-0-24-1
- Sohail Tanvir3-0-17-0
Anwar's struggled with his length today
KP: "This game is in zimbabwe's favor if they didn't play out two maidens! How valuable those 12 wasted deliveries seem now."
MN Waller c Shahid Afridi b Anwar Ali 20 (16m 14b 2x4 1x6) SR: 142.85
42 needed off the last two overs. Would take a miracle here for Zimbabwe. Anwar to bowl
END OF OVER:18 | 8 Runs | ZIM: 138/5 (42 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.66, RRR: 21.00)
- Malcolm Waller12 (10b)
- Elton Chigumbura21 (12b)
- Sohail Tanvir3-0-17-0
- Zulfiqar Babar4-1-21-2
ZCFOutkast: "Isaam, there's nothing mysterious about Ray&Prosper. For a long time Cremer was our lead attacking spinner. The way he's been thumped playing for us shows just how much misguided self-belief he gave them."
50 to get off three overs. They need a big over now
END OF OVER:17 | 11 Runs | ZIM: 130/5 (50 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.64, RRR: 16.66)
- Elton Chigumbura15 (8b)
- Malcolm Waller10 (8b)
- Zulfiqar Babar4-1-21-2
- Asad Ali3-0-26-0
Awais Sohrab: "Harare has been a sad venue for Zimbabwe. Have played 7 T20S at this venue, and did win a single match. Can they break the shackles today ?"
Game on here
END OF OVER:16 | 10 Runs | ZIM: 119/5 (61 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 7.43, RRR: 15.25)
- Malcolm Waller8 (5b)
- Elton Chigumbura7 (5b)
- Asad Ali3-0-26-0
- Zulfiqar Babar3-1-11-2
AndrewM: "Maruma is not up to international standard. Not even by Zim standards. Sad but true... Who's next on your list Mr Selectors?"