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29 March 2024

1st T20 Zimbabwe v Pakistan: Pakistan seal easy 25-run win over Zimbabwe

Published
By Cricket Correspondent with Agencies

Opener Ahmed Shehzad struck 70 from 50 deliveries to help Pakistan cruise to a 25-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 international played at Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Pakistan posted 161 for five from their 20 overs, a total that always looked beyond the hosts.

None of the Zimbabwe batsmen was able to score quickly with only skipper Brendan Taylor (32 not out) and Vusi Sibanda (31) compiling scores of note in the home total of 135 for five.

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi used all his guile to bamboozle the Zimbabwe batsmen and his wrist spin brought match-winning figures of three for 25 in four overs.

"Early on it was doing a bit, after six or so overs it was coming on nicely. We wanted to just bat with our top six and so were cautious at the start. We felt that with the bowling attack we have, if we got anything over 150 we could win," Shehzad said at the victory presentation.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field, making a good start after opening the bowling with off-spinner Prosper Utseya conceding only 15 from his four overs.

But all the while Shehzad was blazing away from one end and when he was joined by Afridi (23 from 16 balls) with a little more than five overs to go, Pakistan stepped up the scoring rate. There was also a good cameo from debutant Sohaib Maqsood (26 from 16 balls).

All of the Pakistan bowlers were able to contain the batsmen in the Zimbabwe reply, with Afridi in particular using his variations to great effect on a dry, lifeless pitch.

The second Twenty20 will be played at the same venue on Saturday.

ZIMBABWE INNINGS

Pakistan scored an easy 25-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 in Harare.

Chasing 162 to win, Zimbabwe openers Hamilton Masakadza (18) and Vusi Sibanda (31) gave a good start adding 53 runs for the first wicket.

But Shahid Afridi's three-wicket haul meant Zimbabwe were left lot to look for as they managed only 136 for five in 20 overs.

Skipper Brendan Taylor was unbeaten on 32.

Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad struck a fine 70 off 50 balls as Pakistan scored a healthy 161 for five in 20 overs.

Zimbabwe were impressive early on taking some quick wickets but still could not slow down Pakistan's progress.

Maqsood chipped in with a quick 26 off 16 deliveries including two sixes and a boundary while Shahid Afridi smashed 23 from 16 balls as Pakistan set Zimbabwe a strong target to chase.

Taylor wages a lone battle. But with 32 needed off the last over it looks a tough task for the hosts. Zim 130-5 in 19 overs.

Afridi takes his tally to three. Zim 117-5 in 18 overs.

E Chigumbura b Shahid Afridi 6 (5b 1x4 0x6)

Afridi gets his second wicket. Zim 111-4 in 17.1 overs.

T Maruma st Sarfraz Ahmed b Shahid Afridi 10 (13b 1x4 0x6)

Skipper Taylor putting his best efforts. Gets a boundary off the last ball. Zim 104-3 in 16 overs.

Zimbabwe need 67 runs from 30 balls. A tall target but Zimbabwe have the wickets. Zim 95-3 in 15 overs.

Zimbabwe losing it from here. Williams though not happy with the decision. Zim 89-3 in 13.3 overs.

S Williams lbw b Mohammad Hafeez 9 (7b 1x4 0x6)

Wiliams and Taylor fight back. Zim 87-2 in 13 overs.

Afridi strikes. Well settled Sibanda goes. Zim 80-2 in 12.2 overs.

V Sibanda b Shahid Afridi 31 (42b 3x4 0x6)

Zimbabwe growing in confidence. Even Afridi is unable to break this growing partnership. Zim 71-1 in 11 overs.

Afridi introduced into the attack, but ZImbabwe batsmen see him through. Zim 58-1 in 9 overs.

Pakistan finally get their first wicket. Zim 53-1 in 7.5 overs.

H Masakadza lbw b Anwar Ali 18 (16b 3x4 0x6)

Both Masakadza and Sibanda continue to do well. Zim 48-0 in 7 overs.

Five runs comes off wides and ZImbabwe reach 42-0 in 6 overs. Pakistan need a wicket here.

Zimbabwe 35-0 in 5 overs.

Zimbabwe openers looking great here. They are getting the runs and ensuring no wickets is lost. Zim 28-0 in 4 overs.

Only three runs from it. Zimbabwe needs 143 from 102 balls. Zim 19-0 in 3 overs.

Two boundaries from Masakadza. Zim 16-0 in 2 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda start proceedings for Zimbabwe. Tanvir to open bowling for Pakistan. Zim 6-0 in 1 over.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Ahmed Shehzad struck a fine 70 off 50 balls as Pakistan scored a healthy 161 for five in 20 overs in the first Twenty20 against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Zimbabwe were impressive early on taking some quick wickets but still could not slow down Pakistan's progress.

Maqsood chipped in with a quick 26 off 16 deliveries including two sixes and a boundary while Shahid Afridi smashed 23 from 16 balls as Pakistan set Zimbabwe 162 to chase.

Tendai Chatara took two wickets for Zimbabwe.

So the last over to go. Afridi is still there. Pak 150-5 in 19 overs.

Afridi gets a six. He has another two overs to get as many possible. Pak 143-5 in 18 overs.

Shehzad goes for a big one and he does not get the distance. Pakistan 135-4 in 17.1 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad c Waller b S Masakadza 70 (50b 6x4 1x6)

A crucial partnership building here. Afridi and Shehzad can take Pakistan to a healthy total from here. Pak 134-4 in 17 overs.

Shehzad continues to play his shots, gets a big six. Pak 124-4 in 16 overs.

Shehzad gets his half century. A fine knock to get Pakistan out of some early shocks. Pak 112-4 in 15 overs.

A brilliant catch from Sibanda. Zimbabwe badly needed a wicket here. Pak 106-4 in 14.3 overs.

Sohaib Maqsood c Sibanda b Chigumbura 26 (16b 1x4 2x6)

Another good over for Pakistan. Zimbabwe bowling seems to be losing it from here. Lot of loose deliveries. Pak 99-3 in 14 overs.

Pakistan are 86-3 in 13 overs.

A fruitful over for Pakistan. 17 runs, including the first six, coming off it. Pak 76-3 in 12 overs.

Pakistan made to work hard for every run. Zimbabwe bowlers very impressive here. Pak 59-3 in 11 overs.

Zimbabwe strike again. Pakistan looks to be losing their way and a good catch by skipper Taylor. Pak 51-3 in 8.2 overs.

Umar Amin c Taylor b Utseya 14 (18b 1x4 0x6)

Pakistan reach 50 in eight overs. They have been a little slow here but they still have a strong batting line up. Pak 50-2 in 8 overs.

The partnership reaches 22. Pakistan ensuring the partnership goes on for a while. Pak 43-2 in 7 overs.

Some runs finally coming for Pakistan.Two good boundaries. Pak 37-2 in 6 overs.

Zimbabwe bowlers continue to put up a good show. Pak 26-2 in 5 overs.

Brilliant bowling from Chatara. He takes another to remove the Pakistan captain. Pak 23-2 in 4 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez c Taylor b Chatara 3 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan made to work hard for every run. Good job from Zimbabwe bowlers. Pak 18-1 in 3 overs

Zimbabwe taste early success. That should give them a lot of confidence. Pak 14-1 in 1.5 overs.

Nasir Jamshaid c Vitori b Chatara 2 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Steady start for Pakistan. Pak 5-0 in 1 over.

Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshaid open for Pakistan. Spinner Prosper Utseya bowls for Zimbabwe.

A small chat with Afridi there. He says he always loves challenges and he is happy to be a part of the team which consists of so many youngsters.

The crowd certainly eager to watch some big shots from him.

Playing XI:

Zimbabwe: H Masakadza, V Sibanda, B Taylor, T Maruma, S Williams, M Waller, E Chigumbura, P Utseya, T Chatara, S Masakadza, B Vitori.

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Amin, Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan

Zimbabwe go into Friday's first Twenty20 international against Pakistan at Harare Sports Club with captain Brendan Taylor confident that the players have put their most recent scuffle with the board behind them.

The month-long tour will see the two sides face off in two Twenty20 matches, three one-day internationals and two Tests, but Zimbabwe's preparations were thrown into disarray last week when the players refused to train after negotiations over unpaid salaries and future contracts broke down.

Although the players came to an agreement with Zimbabwe Cricket last Friday and returned to training, fast bowler Kyle Jarvis announced on Sunday that he was quitting international cricket in favour of a county contract.

Nevertheless Taylor expects his side to move on mentally as they look to present a challenge to Pakistan.

"I think we've all been around long enough to put that aside now," Taylor told AFP in a telephone conversation. "ZC have met us in the middle and there's nothing more to harp on about it.

"We've discussed this as players and it's time to move forward and try and represent our country as well as we can."

Taylor admitted that Jarvis' decision had come as a surprise to his teammates and hoped that the 24-year-old will return to play for Zimbabwe in the future.

"I just felt he was a little bit premature to leave Zimbabwe cricket, but he's old enough to make his own decisions and see what's right for him," Taylor said.

"I would like to have seen him develop more as a Test bowler and then filter that down into the one-dayers and Twenty20s.

"Not to be, but in three years' time he'll only be 27 - there will always be an open door for him and hopefully he can come back with the added experience and carry on his international career."

Pakistan won every match on their last tour of Zimbabwe in 2011, and will expect to complete a similar sweep over a side that recently lost all five one-day internationals against an understrength Indian team.

"We don't want to be complacent in any way, including our preparation," coach Dav Whatmore said. "We may be playing Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, but these are still very important matches for Pakistan."

M Hafeez will lead Pakistan in the Twenty20 matches on Friday and Saturday, but the tourists will be without wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal after he suffered a mild seizure last weekend during a flight to Jamaica, where he was due to play a match in the Caribbean Premier League.

His replacement in the squad, Sarfraz Ahmed, is expected to take the gloves.

TEAMS:

Pakistan: M Hafeez (c), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Amin, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan

Zimbabwe: Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor (c & wk), Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbara, Brian Vitori, Prosper Utseya, Tendai Chetara. Michael Chinouya.