4th ODI: Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Harare, 30 Nov 2002 John Ward |
Pakistan innings:
Pre-game: Zimbabwe innings: |
Zimbabwe responded to batting first on a pitch with good bounce but only occasional movement with an execrable display from their top order. They were given a wrong-footed start by local umpire Ahmed Esat, who sent back Mark Vermeulen (9) lbw to a delivery from Shoaib Akhtar that was heading down the leg side.
Within minutes, Alistair Campbell (0) had helpfully steered Mohammad Sami into the gully, while Andy Flower left first ball, quite uncharacteristically driving too ambitiously given the situation and being caught at slip.
When Dion Ebrahim (2) chopped a ball from Shoaib on to his stumps from a crooked back-foot shot, Zimbabwe were 13 for four and looking as bankrupt in the batting department as in their bowling. Or, more likely, it was simply a lack of guts and determination. 25 minutes after the start, the match was already as good as over as a contest.
A brief stand followed between Grant Flower and Sean Ervine before the latter steered Mohammad Zahid to second slip to depart for 5 - Zimbabwe 36 for five. The shambles continued as Mohammad Sami caught the edge of Tatenda Taibu's bat for wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal to take a good flying catch, sending him back without scoring.
Grant Flower was still there, although most of the time struggling for survival rather than asserting his authority. Travis Friend began cautiously but grew in confidence, playing his strokes wisely until on 48 he drove too ambitiously at Shahid Afridi and was bowled. Zimbabwe were now 123 for seven, after a partnership of 82.
Grant, now working the ball skilfully around the field, went on to reach his fifty off 89 balls, although it had seemed a lot longer in the context of the game. Gary Brent (8) drove over a ball from Sami and Brian Murphy was given out, under-edging an attempted pull off Sami to the keeper, after several replays. Zimbabwe were 164 for nine.
Douglas Hondo stuck in while both sides then played their usual games trying to manipulate the strike with the last pair together. Grant reached one of his finest fighting centuries off 144 balls in the penultimate over and finished with more than half the total, as Hondo, with one ball to go, swung at Saqlain and skyed a catch for 5.
Players from both sides have batted superbly in this series, but the most vital factor has been that Zimbabwe's bowling has been totally ineffective. Different selections for Wednesday's match meant that the cannon-fodder presented to the likes of Yousuf Youhana and Saleem Elahi was more accurate than in Bulawayo, but it was still innocuous. Unless Pakistan grow careless with the series already decided, it is difficult to see Zimbabwe pulling back a win, especially when their own batsmen have to face a world-class attack.
Zimbabwe made two more changes to their team, replacing Craig Evans and Mluleki Nkala with former captain Brian Murphy and all-rounder Travis Friend, another whose accuracy is often in question. This completes a change of the entire specialist bowling line-up from the Bulawayo matches.
Pakistan rested captain Waqar Younis from this match, with Mohammad Sami returning and Inzamam-ul-Haq taking over the reins. Openers Saleem Elahi and Taufeeq Umar, having feasted lavishly, relinquished their places at the banquet table to Misbah-ul-Haq - his first tour match - and Younis Khan.
Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell (captain), Dion Ebrahim, Mark Vermeulen, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Sean Ervine, Craig Evans, Tatenda Taibu, Travis Friend, Brian Murphy, Gary Brent, Douglas Hondo
Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Zahid
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 30 Nov2002 - 19:30