Andrew
Zimbabwe beat Pakistan for the first time in a T20I match in their 16th attempt, ending a nine-match losing streak in the process.
It was their first T20I win at home since beating India in 2016.
And the Chevrons achieved all three in emphatic style, as their 19-run win helped Zimbabwe level the series 1-1 and put them within one game of winning the series.
However, while many will probably need a day or two for the shock to sink in, the one man who wasn’t surprised by the feat is Zimbabwe bowling coach Daniel Hondo.
“It didn’t surprise me at all,” said the Chevrons bowling coach.
“I reminded the boys that we put Pakistan in a similar situation, and it is possible to restrict them to a small total.
“All we needed was belief, and it would be possible to defend the total,” he said.
Hondo spoke and the boys listened.
On a slow surface, Zimbabwe set Pakistan a target of 119, which seemed gettable for the most part.
It ended up being the lowest score Pakistan have failed to chase down, as they were bowled out for 99.
They got off to a slow start, and then suffered a massive middle- and lower-order collapse, losing seven wickets for 21 runs in 26 balls to crash from 78 for 3 to their lowest T20I total since 2016.
Luke Jongwe, who made his comeback to the Zimbabwean team in this series after a five-year absence because of eye and head injuries, finished with the best returns by a Zimbabwean in T20Is – 4 for 18 – and took wickets at the top and bottom of the Pakistan line-up.
He was supported well by legspinner Ryan Burl, who took 2 for 21.
The other tweakers in the attack, Wesley Madhevere and Wellington Masakadza, went at less than 5.50 run an over, and left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava, who bowled three overs for ten runs.
Zimbabwe’s ground-fielding was also much improved after they dropped several chances in the first match, but they still have some work to do with the bat.
Only one of their batters, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe scored over 20, their highest partnership was 28 for the second wicket between Kamunhukamwe and Tadiwanashe Marumani.
However, it was enough to beat Pakistan.
Babar Azam’s 41 looked like it would take Pakistan over the line, despite a growing required run-rate.
Pakistan needed to score at less than six runs an over to win when they started, but needed 47 runs off the last five overs, at a rate of over nine an over.
When Azam was dismissed, they fell apart, making Sunday’s third match a decider. – Sports Reporter/Cricinfo
Online Reporter