Fakhar, Asif lead rout of Zimbabwe in tri-series opener
A career-best 61 from Fakhar Zaman, along with contributions from Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali at the death, handed Zimbabwe a 74-run drubbing in Harare
A career-best 61 from Fakhar Zaman, along with contributions from Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali at the death, handed Zimbabwe a 74-run drubbing in Harare
Scorer: @Cricket_Lama | Commentator: Deivarayan Muthu
1.14pm That is that. Pakistan, the No.1 T20I side, have brushed off the depleted hosts. Kyle Jarvis, who had injured his bowling hand in the first innings, will not bat. The injury occured in the 14th over of the innings, when Fakhar Zaman hoicked a delivery from Ryan Burl into the leg side. Sprinting around the boundary from wide long-on, Jarvis dived to his right attempting to hold onto a low catch. The difficult chance was spilled, and it was immediately apparent that Jarvis had suffered an injury when he collapsed in pain and signalled to the team physio, who rushed onto the field. Jarvis was taken to hospital and X-rayed for a suspected broken bone in his right thumb. Mind you, Zimbabwe are already without five frontline players, including Cremer and Raza.
Musakanda, the debutant, provided the lone source of resistance for Zimbabwe in the chase with an eye-catching 43. The inexperienced batting line-up has plenty of work to do if they are to even compete in this tri-series against Pakistan and Australia. All the Pakistan bowlers had a good workout under the Harare sun. Do stick around for the presentations
Hamilton Masakadza, Zimbabwe captain: Only bright point was winning the toss. They had a good Powerplay and put us under pressure. Yeah, I thought we have them 20 runs extra. They guys filled in okay but we lost our way a bit the middle period.
Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan captain: First of all thanks to almighty Allah. The way Zaman, Asif, and Malik did the job for us...It looked like a good batting pitch. The ball did not come on in the first innings, but in the second it came on nicely. Credit goes to the bowlers, especially Usman and Nawaz. Plenty of cricket to be played in the series. Hopefully, we will do well.
Asif Ali is the Player of the Match
Outkast: "Poor Zimbabwe! Well done Pakistan! I agree with you @Thabani. Zimbabwe really don't have much of a choice now but to blood in the youngsters. Mire, Hami and Chigumbura are seniors, but together they simply have to contribute at least 5 overs with the ball: Murray(wk), Kamunhukamwe, Chari, Hami(c), Musakanda, Chigumbura, Mire, Chisoro, Jarvis, Magarira, Muzarabani"
That's a wrap of this game. Many thanks for your warm company and comments. Looking forward to your company tomorrow as well. Until then, this is Deivarayan Muthu signing off on the behalf of Thilak Ram. Cheers
B Muzarabani b Mohammad Hafeez 0 (4m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
RP Burl c Shoaib Malik b Mohammad Hafeez 9 (18m 11b 0x4 0x6) SR: 81.81
Jeremy Braund: "RE Hanif: "Par score is 200" Is it? What I love about PSL is the lack of 200+ scores you get in IPL, BBL etc. Over the past 2 or 3 years Pakistani bowlers have become used to regularly defending totals of under 150 - which international batsmen get to chase, of course! Even if international par scores have gone up a little, it's nothing Pakistan can't manage!"
Hafeez
Muhammad Arslan: "@Hanif: Despite everything you say that Pakistan needs to cope up with the best teams in the world, remember that Pakistan is No.1 Team and they beat all these best teams to be the best. If you can do that, who cares you need 200+ every game. All you need is the winning formula which definitely Pakistan have at the moment !"
It is suspected the fast bowler may have broken his thumb going for a catch at the long-on boundary
A career-best 61 from Fakhar Zaman, along with contributions from Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali at the death, handed Zimbabwe a 74-run drubbing in Harare
The newly appointed Zimbabwe captain says he will try to block out all of his side's off-field troubles in the tri-series against Pakistan and Australia
With as many as five frontline players missing for various reasons, the home team will run into Pakistan - the format's No. 1 side