adminWITH the series at stake, Pakistan hit back strongly yesterday by posting a total well beyond Zimbabwe’s reach, thereby giving the final match greater context. Mohammad Hafeez led the way with an attacking, unbeaten 136 to lift Pakistan to 299, and although Zimbabwe had their moments in the chase, they failed to stretch Pakistan over a sustained period. A clump of wickets towards the end widened the gap between the two sides, as the margin of victory suggested.
Both sides, while batting, were removed from their comfort zones. Pakistan didn’t have the safety net of a steady Misbah-ul-Haq innings for the other batsmen to bat around. A rare failure from Misbah gave Hafeez the chance to step up and guide the innings. Zimbabwe, for a change didn’t have the luxury of a solid opening stand in the face of a daunting total, and the middle order couldn’t cover the slack. Pakistan, though, responded better to the challenge.
Put in to bat, Pakistan had a better idea of the kind the score needed to intimidate a confident Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe were guilty of dropping catches in the first ODI but those let-offs, fortunately, didn’t cost them in the end. While they were relatively better, one lapse cost them plenty of runs. When on 30, Hafeez went for the slog sweep but as the ball dipped towards deep square leg, Brian Vitori was a touch too late on the dive. He couldn’t hang on and Zimbabwe were made to rue the missed chance.
Taylor kept Zimbabwe’s hopes alive with a positive fifty – his first in 13 innings – and it got to the stage where Pakistan were in need of a breakthrough. Ajmal provided that when he beat an advancing Williams, getting him stumped. Taylor had added 70 with Williams and 65 with Malcolm Waller, but all along they failed to keep with the rising asking rate.-Cricinfo
Online Reporter