3rd Match: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Sharjah, 28 Oct 2001 CricInfo Live Report

3rd Match: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Sharjah, 28 Oct 2001
Suhael Ahmed

Pakistan innings: 15 Overs, End of Innings,
Zimbabwe innings: 15 Overs, End of match,

ZIMBABWE SUCCUMB FOR 173

Zimbabwe batsmen Carlisle and Andy Flower carried on steadily after 15 overs hitting the bad balls and taking the singles and twos. After 20 overs they were 83 for 2. Carlisle was run out on the 3rd ball of the 21st over after a mixed up call and both batsmen were at one end and this stopped a fine partnership. Ebrahim joined Andy and a dicey moment was created when Andy turned one to Taufeeq and almost got run out after a brilliant save in the 25th over but they were still there with the score 102 for 3 but the required run rate was over 7.2.

Afridi and Razzaq tried to contain the scoring but were not able to stop the singles that kept the fielders busy. Shoaib Malik the Saqlain clone came on for the 27th over and got hit for a four off his first ball by Andy Flower to backward square leg. On his fifth ball Ebrahim was adjudged caught behind as there was a loud noise but the batsman was not happy and had to go back to the pavilion.

Streak joined Andy Flower, two ex-captains together, and after 28 over Zimbabwe were 117 for 4. Streak showed he can attack and hit Shoaib Malik for a four in the 29th over and then a super straight six but on the next ball was dropped by Razzaq at long off. Andy Flower completed the fastest fifty of the tourney in 58 balls but was bowled on the last ball, playing the wrong line. Zimbabwe were now 131 for 5 and still a long way to go.

Gripper the odi debut player for Zimbabwe came in and survived a loud lbw shout to be run out by Rashid Latif. In the 30th over Afridi bowled one outside leg stump, Gripper tried a sweep and missed and walked out of the crease and Latif ran ahead of the stumps and flicked the ball back smartly and Gripper’s inexperience showed. In walked Ervine and snicked his first ball from Afridi to Latif and Zimbabwe was struggling at 132 for 7 after 30 overs.

The new Zimbabwe captain Murphy, came in to partner Streak and in the next Shoaib Malik over was unfortunate to be adjudged leg before for a duck on the drifter which on replay may have been missing leg. Zimbabwe was 8 down for 138 with the new batsman Brent in. Waqar brought in everyone into the circle wanting to wrap up quickly but there was some dogged resistance, a few singles and paddle sweeps to take the score to 146 for 8 after 33 overs.

In the first ball of the 34th, Afridi bowled Brent with a fast ball on off stump to which he had no answer and last man Friend came in. Five wickets had fallen in the last five overs. Rashid Latif and the rest of the teams relaxed in next two overs, Latif did not react in time to a snick off Shoaib and missed a stumping off Afridi.

Waqar decided to bring in Shoaib Akhtar for the 38th over and he let loose a wayward yorker that was outside leg and edged to fine leg for four followed by a two to long on and another four, nicely flicked to fine leg on the last ball. In the next over Shoaib Malik bowled a full toss that was sent over the deep cover boundary and after 39 overs Zimbabwe was 173 for 9.

Shoaib Akhtar finally got a wicket on the first ball of the 40th over, yorking Friend off his boot and Zimbabwe lost by 106 runs. This was a far better performance by Pakistan and apart from some resistance by Andy Flower and Carlisle, the rest of the Zimbabwe batting folded up meekly.

Shahid Afridi was the Man of the match and winner of the Most Sixes award.

The next match will be on Tuesday 10:30GMT between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka

ZIMBABWE CONSOLIDATE AFTER LOSING EARLY WICKETS

Pakistan looked a different team having to defend a good target this evening. Marillier and Grant Flower came out to face Wasim and Waqar. Both the Pakistan pacers look rejuvenated, putting much more into their bowling. Wasim did well yesterday too as he was able to generate more pace than seen in the past year.

Waqar struck first bowling off a shorter run but with a straighter arm action. He set up Grant Flower with two outswingers and then a couple of balls that came in. He then produced a outswinging ball on the stumps for an edge to Taufeeq Umar in the slips and Zimbabwe were 5 for 1 after 2 overs.

Marillier was uncomfortable against the pace and bounce extracted by Wasim. He was struck once on the arm and got an apology from Wasim but then was yorked. A superb inswinging yorker got through to his off stump and Andy Flower joined Carlisle. Both saw off the Pakistan opening pair although there were a few edges and shots that fell short of the fielders.

Shoaib Akhtar was the first change for the 12th over, replacing Waqar and was pulled for a four by Carlisle. Abdur Razzaq replaced Wasim and Zimbabwe reached 50 for 2 after 13 overs with a long chase ahead. In Shoaib’s second over a mistimed pull by Andy Flower dropped too far away from Saeed Anwar at short mid wicket and was followed by another 4 cut away to the point rope.

Razzaq was off target in his first two overs, perhaps suffering after his fine batting effort and after 15 overs Zimbabwe were 64 for 2 with Carlisle at 35 off 50 balls and Andy Flower 21 off 27 balls.

PAKISTAN BATTING CLICKS TO SET A 280 RUN TARGET

In the 16th over Afridi went for the last ball from Brent and put it on top of the long off stand for a massive six. Then both Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi accelerated the scoring with some good cuts and drives and after 20 overs the score had moved along to 88/1 with skipper Murhpy bowling his leggies. Afreidi was on 39 and Anwar had 19.Their 50 run partnership was completed in the 21st over. Afridi charged Murphy in the 23rd over and hoisted him into the long off stand for his 4th six to take the total to 100 for 1and completed his fifty off 69 balls with a sweep to leg in the same over.

In the next over by Ervine the second ball was a full toss and it was pulled over backward square leg for Afridi’s 5th six. Murphy then called his team into a huddle for a talk as the shoulders had started dropping. Streak was brought back in the 26th over to help with a breakthrough as Murphy had realised Pakistan were poised for a big total. Heath’s fifth ball was on leg stump and Afridi moved to leg and let fly a rocket like drive just past the bowler for four and after 26 overs Pakistan were 130 for 1. Saeed Anwar was on 36 and Afridi on 64.

Streak soon struck back bowling Afridi with a straight ball when Afridi moved away to leg for a hoik, gone for 67 off 81 balls with 5 sixers and Pakistan at 136 for 2. Youhana came in and played steadily with Saeed Anwar in the lead role scoring freely on either side of the wicket. He was out soon after hitting a huge six over long off a victim of tiredness and some competitive gamesmanship. He had his wrist wrapped up after a strain and on the next ball Grant Flower ran into him going for a save and Anwar fell down onto his damaged arm. Brother Andy made a funny comment, saying, ‘c’mon Grant now he wont be able to do much with his wrists’. Facing the next ball he was bowled by Grant going for a tired heave after an excellent 65 off 80 balls and a six. Pakistan was 188 for 3.

Then there was a mini collapse as Youhana followed soon, holing out to sub Olonga going for a lofted drive over mid off for 26. Younis Khan and new man Abdur Razzaq partnered up and saw Pakistan through the crisis to a total of 244 when Younis Khan was bowled by Friend while going for runs in the 46th over for 17 off 21 balls but Razzaq was playing a fine knock. Wasim Akram came in to join Razzaq and some accurate bowling slowed the scoring rate but in the 47th over a ferocious 4 by Razzaq to mid on pushed it back up and Pakistan were at 253 after 47 overs.

Go for runs was the order but Razzaq was run out off a direct throw by Murphy for 45 off only36 balls after a very useful innings for Pakistan in the 48th over. Rashid Latif joined Wasim Akram who hit a useful 4 off the 4th ball of the 49th over and Pakistan were 265 for 6 with one over to go.

Friend bowled the last over and his second ball was hit for a straight six by Wasim followed by a one-day edged four to third man. He missed the fourth but drove the fifth for two and a single off the last to get Pakistan upto 279/6 in 50 overs. Wasim had hit 22 off 14 balls and Pakistan set a large 280 run target for Zimbabwe.

PAKISTAN START OFF SLOWLY

Waqar won the toss and decided to bat and said we would like to set up a big total after our batting performance in the last game against Sri Lanka. Skipper Murphy said that we will carry on and do our best.

The highlight of the first 15 over session in this match was a great stumping by Andy Flower standing up to medium pacer Brent. Taufeeq Umar who had been batting well, tried to flick a ball outside leg and missed. After a short walk outside the crease he looked back to find that he had been smartly stumped. All in all it was a fine piece of work by Andy Flower. Taufeeq had hit 18 off 28 balls with 3 excellent fours. Today he looked in form and seems he is a good find for Pakistan.

Shahid Afridi was in a different mood and decided to bat far more carefully and after 13 overs had scored 21 with 1 4 and 2 sixes off 38 balls. Brent has been a bit unlucky when it seemed he had trapped Afridi in front but the appeal was declined during the 12th over. In the 14th over Afrid tried to open up but clever slower ball caused him to mistime and was unable to get the ball away.

Saeed Anwar has been timing well with a great cut to the point rope and after 15 over Pakistan was 60 for 1 with Afridi on 21 and Anwar with 11 runs.