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28 March 2024

Emotional T20 victory for Pakistan on home soil

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By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies
 



Pakistan marked international cricket's return to the trouble-torn country with a five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 International at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Openers Mukhtar Ahmed (83) and Ahmed Shehzad (55) added 142 runs before captain Shahid Afridi hit a boundary off the first ball he faced to seal an emotional victory with three balls to spare.

Earlier, Hamilton Masakadza (43) shone upfront and captain Elton Chigumbura (54) provided the late assault to help Zimbabwe post a strong 172-6 having opting to bat first.

Six years after an attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore left six Pakistani policemen and a van driver dead, Zimbabwe became the first test-playing nation to tour the country for a limited overs series.

The visitors got off to a strong start with Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda adding 58 runs before Mohammad Sami (3-36), returning to the national side after a three-year absence, dismissed the openers in successive deliveries in the seventh over.

Zimbabwe overcame mid-innings wobbles to reach 114-4 after 15 overs before Chigumbura, beneficiary of a missed stumping opportunity, accelerated hitting Wahab Riaz for three successive boundaries.

The Zimbabwe skipper reached his fifty with an effortless flick that cleared long leg ropes for the only six of his breezy 35-ball knock.

Pakistan looked in a hurry to wrap up the chase with Ahmed hitting Chris Mpofu for four successive boundaries in the bowler's first over.

Brian Vitori was hit for three consecutive fours in the next over as the 22-year-old Ahmed, playing only his second Twenty20 International, cruised to his maiden fifty in 27 balls and Pakistan reached the 100-mark in the 10th over.

At 142 for no loss in the 14th over, Pakistan were cruising to victory before losing five quick wickets as Zimbabwe bowled with considerable discipline to leave the hosts needing four runs from the final four deliveries.

Afridi looked unperturbed by the pressure to nonchalantly dispatch Tinashe Panyangara's third delivery for a boundary to seal victory.

The teams return to the stadium for the second and final Twenty20 International on Sunday before three one-dayers at the same venue.

Pakistan innings

Pakistan crushed Zimbabwe by five wickets in the first ever Twenty20 international played in Lahore on Friday ending six years of isolation.

Chasing a competitive target of 173, Pakistan gave their home fans plenty to cheer with openers Mukhtar Ahmed (83) and Ahmed Shehzad (55) featuring in a record stand of 142.

Pakistan lost a flurry of wickets before achieving victory with three balls to spare with Afridi hitting the winning boundary as they made 173-5 in 19.3 overs.

Pakistan lose Akmal with 11 needed to win. Pak 162-4, 18 overs.

Umar Akmal c Sibanda b Vitori 4 (3b 1x4 0x6)

Hafeez departs with just 16 needed to win. Pak 157-3, 16.5 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez c Coventry b Cremer 12 (11b 1x4 1x6)

Mukhtar's brilliant knock comes to an end failing to clear the man in the deep going for another big hit. Pak 144-2, 14.4 overs.

Mukhtar Ahmed c Mutumbami b Cremer 83 (45b 12x4 3x6)

Zimbabwe finally get a breakthrough as Shehzad cuts straight to point. Pak 142-1, 13.3 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad c Mutumbami b Williams 55 (39b 6x4 1x6)

Shehzad hammers a boundary and towering six off Mpofu as Pakistan race towards the target. Pak 140-0, 13 overs.

Shehzad completes his half century off 34 balls by flicking Vitori to the fine leg fence. Pak 129-0, 12 overs.

Mukhtar smashes a six off Raza and Shehzad a boundary as the duo continue to pulverise the Zimbabwe attack. Pak 123-0, 11 overs.

The 100-run opening stand between Shehzad and Mukhtar comes off just 56 balls as Pakistan are racing to victory. Pak 109-0, 10 overs.

Mukhtar completes his maiden T20 half century off just 26 balls in style hoisting Cremer over the ropes. Pak 89-0, 8 overs.

Shehzad also gets into the act using his dancing shoes to loft spinner Williams for a boundary followed by a six. Pak 60-0, 5 overs.

Mukhtar is putting Zimbabwe to the sword smashing three boundaries in a row off Vitori. Pak 49-0, 4 overs.

Mukhtar is turning it on hammering four consecutive boundaries off Mpofu. Pak 36-0, 3 overs.

Mukhtar smashes the first ball from Panyangara to the fence as Pakistan begin their run chase in style.

Pakistan need 173 off 120 balls to win this historic clash.

Zimbabwe innings

An explosive half century from skipper Elton Chigumbura (54) has helped Zimbabwe make a formidable 172-6 after being put in to bat.

Opener Hamilton Masakadza gave them a solid start with a fluent knock of 43 off 27 balls stroking seven boundaries and six.

Sami claimed three for 36 and Wahab two for 38.

Chigumbura's brilliant knock comes to an end being castled by Wahab. Zim 168-6, 19.2 overs.

Elton Chigumbura b Wahab Riaz 54 (35b 8x4 1x6)

Chigumbura smashes Sami for a six to bring up his fifty off just 33 balls.

Raza hammers a massive six and a boundary off Sami before holing out to Shehzad. Zim 142-5, 17 overs.

Sikandar Raza c Ahmed Shehzad b Mohammad Sami 17 (13b 1x4 1x6)

Chigumbura is taking the fight to Pakistan getting three boundaries off Bhatti. Zim 129-4, 16 overs.

Malik finally gets his man as Williams top edges to short fine leg. Zim 100-4, 12.4 overs.

Sean Williams c Wahab Riaz b Shoaib Malik 16 (15b 1x4 0x6)

Williams hits a reverse sweep for a boundary off Afridi while Sarfraz misses a second stumping chance. Zim 97-3, 12 overs.

Coventry goes caught behind off Riaz after cracking three boundaries. Zim 73-3, 8.2 overs.

CK Coventry c Sarfraz Ahmed b Wahab Riaz 14 (7b 3x4 0x6)

Double strike by Sami knocking out Masakadza's leg stump. Zim 58-2, 7 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza b Mohammad Sami 43 (27b 7x4 1x6)

Sami gets a breakthrough with Sibanda being undone by a short ball top edging it behind. Zim 58-1, 6.5 overs.

V Sibanda c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Sami 13 (15b 1x4 0x6)

Sibanda cuts Bhatti past backward point for his first boundary to bring up the 50 of the innings. Zim 54-0, 6 overs.

Masakadza hits the first six of the match pulling Bhatti over square leg. Zim 33-0, 4 overs.

Masakadza is on song lap sweeping Anwar over fine leg and then another through backward square leg. Zim 23-0, 3 overs.

Masakadza cracks two consecutive boundaries off the first over from Sami. Zim 12-0, 2 overs.

Masakadza hits the first boundary of the match off the first ball from Sami.

Anwar Ali bowls the first ball to Masakadza as international cricket returns to Pakistan after six years.

Zimbabwe have won the toss and elected to bat first.

Playing XI

Pakistan: Mukhtar, Shehzad, Hafeez, Umar, Malik, Sarfraz, Afridi, Anwar, Bhatti, Wahab, Sami.

Zimbabwe: Sibanda, Raza, Coventry, Williams, Masakadza, Mutumbami, Chigumbura, Panyangara, Cremer, Mpofu, Vitori.

Preview


Pakistan hosts Zimbabwe in the first ever Twenty 20 at Lahore on Friday in a high stakes encounter ending six years of isolation by touring teams.

No Test-playing country has visited Pakistan since a terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore six years ago, killing eight people and injuring seven players.

The two-match T20 series will not only provide both teams an opportunity to improve their rankings but also become a milestone for Pakistan in their efforts for the revival of international cricket in the country.


In the absence of key bowlers like Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul, Wahab will spearhead the fast bowling attack along with Sami who has been recalled.

Before the T20 clash both captains looked upbeat with Afridi welcoming the return of international cricket to Pakistan while his Zimbabwean counterpart shrugged off security fears and said his players were focusing on cricket.

The second T20 match will be staged on Sunday before the start of three-match ODI series on May 26 with all the matches being staged at the Gaddafi Stadium where the trophy of the T20 series was also unveiled during a pre-match news conference addressed by both the skippers.

“It is extremely pleasing that the moment for which we have been waiting for six years has finally come. I would like to give credit to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan besides the Zimbabwe Cricket, government and their players,” Afridi maintained.

“I also feel honoured for getting an opportunity to play before the home crowd at the end of my international career,” said the T20 skipper before his attention was turned to the return of Malik and Sami to the national outfit.

“Both Malik and Sami are seasoned players and they have many good performances at their back. Now they got another chance and hopefully they will grab this opportunity by giving extraordinary performances,” he said.

On the other hand, the Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said his team’s main focus would be on the game of cricket instead of being worried about security.

Chigumbura said his squad was looking forward to building on the positives they earned at the World Cup.

“We just want to try and carry the momentum we gained at the World Cup, and obviously will seek to improve a few of our shortcomings,” maintained the Zimbabwe captain who also expressed hopes that they would seek to take advantage of tips their head coach Dav Whatmore, who had worked as head coach with Pakistan squad in the past, had given to them.

Squads:


Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mukhtar Ahmed, Nauman Anwar, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Hammad Azam, Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Bilawal Bhatti, Imad Wasim.

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza Butt, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Charles Coventry5, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Roy Kaia, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams.

Field umpires: Ahsan Raza, Shozaib Raza.

TV umpire: Ahmad Shahab.

Referee: Azhar Khan.