New-look Pakistan go 1-0 up after Zimbabwe lose 8 for 31
From 77 for 2, Zimbabwe collapsed to 108 all out in their chase
From 77 for 2, Zimbabwe collapsed to 108 all out in their chase
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Rvel Zahid
Sikandar Raza: To leak 40 odd runs in the last three overs, I thought momentum shifted and then 90 odd for two or three at 10 (overs) and you're backing yourself...to see ourselves get all out on 110 is a really tough pill to swallow right now. I've always said you correct these things in the nets. If we all go back to our training methods, and train smartly, look at conditions, we know exactly what the conditions are like, what's best when the ball get old outside powerplay. It's very easy to go in nets and do your power hitting and just hit out but the quality of bowling and sometimes wicket don't allow that...so to upskill yourselves is very crucial for us. If you're not finding a boundary, hit it in pockets for one and twos, have less dots...have a partnership and you stay in the game. It's all up to individuals who raise hand, understand where we have gone wrong and try to correct our mistakes which I know we are very capable of. (On bowling and positives). We were looking to win the game to be honest when you see yourself at 90 odd after 10 for three and you are thinking we have a great chance of winning
Tayyab Tahir, Player of the Match: It was a bit difficult to hit with the old ball, made plan with partner that we will go till the end. We were talking to each other that we will run hard, hit every ball and if we can't hit a six, then we will run
All the young players from Pakistan grabbed their opportunity and were head and shoulders above Zimbabwe in every facet of the game. The batting did struggle against spin but a late resurgence from Irfan Khan and Tayyab Tahir ensured they put a reasonable total on the board. Zimbabwe went all guns blazing in the powerplay and were 60/2 at the end of the sixth over but the introduction of spin made life tough for the home side. Even though Raza kept applying pressure on the bowlers, there weren't enough partnerships and the game progressively slipped away from their hands as they were kept on the hook and weren't allowed to break free. Zimbabwe need to do some serious work to avoid batting collapses. Losing wickets in clusters often puts them out of the game and Raza made some noteworthy points in the post-match presser that we hope resonate with the team
T Gwandu st †Usman Khan b Abrar Ahmed 0 (4m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Brad: "Pakistan has done the right thing to get themselves free from the shackles of Shadab, Faheem, Babar, and now Rizwan allowing the bench warmers to showcase their worth in free spirit."
Areeb: "Muqeem, Faisal, Abrar, Mehran, Sajid. Finally some spinners starting to show some promise. Long ways to go but there is hope. " makes sense? Heartening to see spinners coming through the ranks indeed
From 77 for 2, Zimbabwe collapsed to 108 all out in their chase
While context might be missing in this T20I series - especially for Pakistan, who have a Champions Trophy to worry about - we could be in for some intrigue