adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe cricket side are hopeful they will register their first Twenty20 international victory over Pakistan this afternoon at Harare Sports Club, but it is not going to be an easy task for the hosts.
Pakistan are leading the two game series 1-0 and Zimbabwe hope to level in this afternoon’s decider starting at 1pm. The Chevrons have faced the Asians eight times in this version of the game but are yet to come out with a victory and have lost in all the meetings over the past years.
The recent defeat was on Sunday, when Zimbabwe failed to perform with the bat having been put into bat first by Pakistan, despite having done well with the ball by restricting the visitors to 136 for eight.
Chamunorwa Chibhabha played an important role, claiming the scalps of the Pakistan top three – Ahmed Shehzad, Mukhtar Ahmed and Sohaib Maqsood – leaving Pakistan on 29 for three after six over.
Zimbabwe seemed in contol, but their batsmen fell short largely because of Imad Wasim’s spell of 4 for 11.
But Zimbabwe’s margin of defeat against Pakistan seems to be getting smaller over the last five games – 25 runs, 19 runs, five wickets, two wickets, and the latest being 13 runs.
Chibhabha feels they should have started on a winning note on Sunday.
“We were supposed to chase and get that 137 for a win despite how well they (Pakistan) bowled, we were supposed to get that.
“We have to execute if we are to win matches and we have to start winning matches. It’s not everyday that you restrict Pakistan to 136 and I am very disappointed over the way we performed (in the opener).
“This is the same problem we have had over the last games, against India we were so close and once again failed to cross the line.
“We have to improve and not just be close yet losing matches so it’s time we start winning if we get opposition to this.
“There are so many ways of looking at this, we got soft dismissals, and I think we did not give the right application at the right time,” said Chibhabha.
Chibhabha was good with the ball early on to finish with figures of 3-18 but his performance with the bat was not that good.
“I think my performance with the ball was as a result of hard work paying off, today I came right and I hope for more days like these.
“The pitch was slow so I guess it suited me, it was not easy though, I had to mix it up and it worked in my favour and had we won the toss, still our plan was to bat first,” he added.
Wasim, whose 4-11 earned him the Man-of-the-Match award, was responsible for the scalps of Chibhabha, Sikanda Raza-Butt, Hamilton Masakadza and Sean Williams.
“Everything I touched, turned into gold today. Some days it doesn’t pay off, but today it did.
“I tried to bowl wicket-wicket and the basics paid off.
“I have to play for the team and whenever I am sent in, I will look to do the job given to me.
“The wicket was dry and slow, it did not spin a lot and I just did what my captain and coach told me.
“Having Grant (Flower former Zimbabwe cricketer) as part of our technical team was an advantage because he knows of the conditions, but still I had to work hard,” Wasim.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura added: “It was a good score to chase down. We just lost too many wickets at the end. Disappointing to lose a game like this.
“The wicket was a bit slow and difficult, but requiring 6 runs an over, it was good to bat on.
“We have come close on many occasions but are just losing”.
But his Pakistani counterpart Shahid Afridi also knows they did not play according to their strength.
“We didn’t play according to the plan. Credit goes to the bowlers. It was a 160-170 pitch, but we just did not bat well.
“The bowlers used the pitch, and I am very happy with the bowlers, especially Imran Khan in that last over. The batsmen need to take up their responsibility,” said Afridi.
Zimbabwe and Pakistan are back at the same venue today for a series decider.
Online Reporter