Zimbabwe tour of Pakistan 2020, First ODI, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe - Pakistan won by 26 runs
Friday, Oct 30, 2020, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe in the first ODI of the three-match series to take a lead of 1-0 upfront! After a fumbled performance with the bat that helped them get to only a par score of 281/8 in 50 overs, they had heavily relied on their bowling unit for a win in this game. And the bowling unit duly responded taking Pakistan to a comfortable victory by a margin of 26 runs!
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| Image Credits: ESPN Cricinfo (via Getty Images) |
Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bat first! Openers provided them a steady start adding 47 runs for the first wicket. Opener Imam-ul-Haq (58 off 75) and middle-order batsman Haris Sohail (71 off 82) scored half-centuries each to give the momentum Pakistan needed during the middle overs. Imad Wasim batted with intent during the death overs scoring an unbeaten 34* runs off 26 deliveries (1 four, 2 sixes) and that helped Pakistan get to 281/8 in 50 overs.
The comical run-out of Imam-ul-Haq when he and Haris Sohail ended up at the same end sums up the story of Pakistan's batting in this match. Fumbled, failed to time shots and less intent! Even against Zimbabwe, their 281 is not an intimidating total by any means! Among Zimbabwean bowlers, Tendai Chisoro and Muzarabani bagged two wickets each while Sikandar Raza and Mumba accounted for a wicket each.
During the chase, Zimbabwe batted with positive intent and their process of approaching the target, though failed to win, was impressive. Craig Ervine and Brendon Taylor together added 71 runs for the third wicket after the fall of two early wickets. And then a solid 119-run stand for the fifth wicket between Taylor and Wesley Madhevere ensured Zimbabwe get to the target as nearer as they can, if not chase it down!
In the process, Brendon Taylor (112 off 117) got to his 11th ODI century while Madhevere (55 off 61) registered his maiden half-century in this format. With pressure mounting in the death overs, Madhevere lost his wicket in the 46th over while Taylor lost his wicket in the 47th over. Once the duo departed, Shaheen Shah and Wahab Riaz made quick inroads into the Zimbabwean batting line-up cleaning them for 255 with two deliveries to spare!
Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged five wickets while Wahab Riaz picked up four wickets and Imad Wasim got the other wicket to fall. Even though Zimbabwe ended up on the losing side, Zimbabwean wicket-keeper batsman Brendon Taylor had been adjudged as the 'Player of the Match' for his brilliant fighting century during the chase.
Brief Scores: Pakistan - 281/8 in 50 overs (Haris Sohail - 71, Imam-ul-Haq - 58, Tendai Chisoro - 2/31, Muzarabani - 2/39) defeated Zimbabwe - 255 all out in 49.4 overs (Brendan Taylor - 112, Wesley Madhevere - 55, Shaheen Afridi - 5/49, Wahab Riaz - 4/41) by 26 runs
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