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Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE crashed to a 25-run defeat in the first Twenty20 cricket match against Pakistan at Harare Sports Club in a match that was delicately balanced, for a very large part, before the visitors’ spinners came in and squeezed life out of the hosts.The second game is at the same venue today.
Pakistan are the world’s number two ranked Twenty20 side.
“The only difference is the two quality spinners they have which makes an extreme difference and made it difficult to keep up with eight or nine runs an over,” said Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor.
“When you have wickets at hand you probably can have a go at them but it was very difficult out there I guarantee you, with Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi bowling.
“They don’t give you much to score off and you have to invent shots that you are not used to playing.
“I think it was a much improved performance compared to India even though it is a different format, it was good to see some guys striking the ball well and we came certainly draw some positives form the match.
“I think we can move tomorrow with a clearer game plan and know what we are going to do next.”
Zimbabwe might have to bring in Sikander Raza in place of Timycen Maruma, today after the later was tied down by Pakistan, in a crucial period of the game, and lost his way.
Mountaineers’ Tendai Chatara was the star of Zimbabwe’s bowling as he ripped through the top order.
He struck early with his fifth ball after taking a beating for nine runs in the first four balls to remove Nasir Jamshed caught at fine leg.
Chatara struck another heavy blow with the second ball of his second over, pitching a short ball which Pakistan skipper Mohammed Hafeez miscued on a cut shot into Brendan Taylor’s hands with the skipper taking a stunning catch.
In response Zimbabwean openers Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda brought impetus and stability in their 53 run opening partnership which was broken after eight overs when Masakadza was trapped lbw.
Score Card
Pakistan 161/5(20 overs) v Zimbabwe 136/5 (20.0 overs)
Toss: Zimbabwe, elected to bowl
Result: Pakistan won by 25 runs
Pakistan Innings
Ahmed Shehzad c Waller b S. Masakadza 70
Nasir Jamshed c Vitori b Chatara 2
Mohammad Hafeez c Taylor b Chatara 3
Umar Amin c Taylor b Utseya 14
Sohaib Maqsood c Sibanda b Chigumbura 26
Shahid Afridi not out 23
Anwar Ali not out 10
Extras (5lb, 8w) 13
Total (5 wkts, 20 overs) 161
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Nasir Jamshed), 2-21 (Mohammad Hafeez), 3-51 (Umar Amin), 4-106 (Sohaib Maqsood), 5-135 (Ahmed Shehzad).
Did not bat: Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan.
Bowling: Utseya 4-0-15-1, Chatara 4-0-30-2, Vitori 4-0-26-0, S. Masakadza 4-0-37-1, Williams 2-0-18-0, Chigumbura 2-0-30-1.
Zimbabwe Innings
H. Masakadza lbw b Anwar Ali 18
V. Sibanda b Shahid Afridi 31
B. Taylor not out 32
S. Williams lbw b Mohammad Hafeez 9
T. Maruma st Sarfraz Ahmed b Shahid Afridi 10
E. Chigumbura b Shahid Afridi 6
M. Waller not out 14
Extras (5b, 2lb, 9w) 16
Total (5 wkts, 20 overs) 136
Fall of wickets: 1-53 (H. Masakadza), 2-80 (Sibanda), 3-89 (Williams), 4-111 (Maruma), 5-117 (Chigumbura).
Did not bat: P. Utseya, T. Chatara, S. Masakadza, B. Vitori.
Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 4-0-23-0, Mohammad Irfan 3-0-18-0, Anwar Ali 3-0-21-1, Saeed Ajmal 4-0-30-0, Shahid Afridi 4-0-25-3, Mohammad Hafeez 2-0-12-1.
Online Reporter