Zimbabwe tour of Pakistan 2020, Third ODI, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe won the Super Over
Tuesday, Nov 03, 2020, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Zimbabwe are not yet down even after losing their first two games of the three-match ODI series to home team Pakistan. They proved it with a brilliant super over victory in the third and final match of the series. In what turned out to be a thriller in the end, both teams fought hard but it was Zimbabwe in the end who held their nerve to finish on the right side of the finish line.
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| Image Credits: Indian Express |
Having opted to bat first, Zimbabwe lost three early wickets and were reduced to 22/3 in 7.2 overs. A 84-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Brendon Taylor (56 off 68) and Sean Williams helped Zimbabwe to get past the 100-run mark. Though wickets fell around Sean, he went on his merry way to score an unbeaten century - 118* off 135 deliveries with 13 fours and a six.
Once Taylor departed, Wesley Madhevere (33 of 31) and Sikandar Raza (45 off 36) were involved in 75 and 96-run partnerships with Sean Williams for the fifth and sixth wicket respectively. These crucial partnerships helped Zimbabwe get to a competitive total of 278/6 in 50 overs. Among Pakistan bowlers, Mohammad Hasnain bagged five wickets while Wahab Riaz accounted for a sole wicket.
During the chase, Pakistan too fumbled at the beginning losing three wickets for just 20 runs on the board. And two more wickets inside 20 overs meant that Pakistan were struggling with just 88 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 17.3 overs. However, Babar Azam held one end tight in the midst of all the drama! Babar added 63 runs for the sixth wicket along with Khushdil Shah but the departure of latter meant that the Captain has only bowlers to bat with and chase down the target.
Pacer Wahab Riaz who walked in at No. 8 scored a brilliant half-century - 52 off 56 with 3 fours and 3 sixes - and involved in a much-needed 100-run stand for the seventh wicket with their captain. However, with wickets falling in the final four overs home team Pakistan managed to only level the scores. Babar Azam was the top scorer for Pakistan with a run-a-ball 125 which included 13 fours and a six while Blessing Muzarabani brought Zimbabwe back into the game with a brilliant five-fer towards the end.
With the scores tied, the game went into a Super Over in which Pakistan batted first. Deservingly, Blessing Muzarabani bowled the Super Over in which he conceded just 2 runs and dismissed two of the Pakistan batsmen (Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah). Interestingly, Babar Azam did not bat for Pakistan in the Super Over. In reply, Zimbabwe chased down the target without losing any wicket and thereby winning the third and final ODI of the series.
Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani bagged the 'Player of the Match' award for his five-for in the match and conceding just two runs in the Super Over. Pakistan captain Babar Azam bagged the 'Player of the Series' for scoring 224 runs in the three runs. With this third ODI, the three-match ODI series comes to an end with Pakistan winning it by a margin of 2-1. Both the teams will next feature in a three-match series starting from Saturday (Nov 07).
Brief Scores: Zimbabwe - 278/6 in 50 overs (Sean Williams - 118, Brendon Taylor - 56, Mohammad Hasnain - 5/26, Wahab Riaz - 1/65) defeated Pakistan - 278/9 in 50 overs (Babar Azam - 125, Wahab Riaz - 52, Blessing Muzarabani - 5/49, Donald Tiripano - 2/39) in a Super Over
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