All-round Hafeez Stars as Pakistan Maul Zimbabwe
Mohammad Hafeez’s dream tour to Zimbabwe continued as all-rounder contributed massively in all three departments to help Pakistan to crush the home by 85 in the first t-20 international of two match series. The match was a vivid contrast between the two sides. Zimbabwe were listless, pathetic in the field, poor with the ball and lacked firepower and depth to overpower Pakistan’s huge total of 198. Pakistan were just opposite to that-punishing with the bat, skillful with the ball, and, surprisingly electric with the bat.
Powered by Hafeez’s 48-ball 7, a breezy 38 from Asad Shafiq and late cameos from Umar Akmal and Sohail Tanvir, Pakistan posted a massive score of 198 well aided by Zimbabwe’s poor bowling effort and sloppiness in the field. The home dropped as many as four regulation catches and compounded their problems with countless fumbles and miss-fields. As chase was always going to be a daunting affair for the home team, Hafeez, who also effected a run-out, made a telling effect with the ball taking 4 for 10 to have Zimbabwe falling short of target by 85 runs.
For Zimbabwe to have a dash at the target, they needed their openers to fie big time. That wasn’t the case though. Sohail Khan removed in-form Vusimuzi Sibanda thanks to a terrific catch from skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and followed it with a wicket of C Zhuwao to peg Zimbabwe upfront. After Tanvir dismissed Brendan Taylor, Hafeez got into act claiming wickets of Hamilton Masakadza and C Chibhabha on successive deliveries to have their opponents reeling at 64 for 5. There were some brief fireworks from Charles Coventry who hit 30 off 13 balls but it was asking too much from the lower half of the batting. Hafeez then cleaned up the tail to complete Zimbabwe’s mauling.
Early in the match, it was Shafiq who started the boundary rot hitting four consecutive fours in Chris Mpofu second over. Hafeez dumped anything that was short, lapped swept the fuller ones and flicked the deliveries bowled on his legs. Shafiq played some gorgeous drives in his 23-ball 38 and upper cut few to punish Zimbabweans early on.
The pair motored along to 74 inside seven overs before Asad slipped on the pitch that prevented him to get back to the crease in the nick of time. He hit half a dozen fours and a six. His exit didn’t affect Hafeez though. The opener went about his attacking shots as Zimbabwe bowlers dished up hittable lengths to make his job easier. Runs came thick and fast for the tourists with debutant Rameez Raja happy to play second fiddle to senior partner. Hafeez’s blistering knock included sixes fours and three leg-side sixes as he put another quickfire 73 with the debutant for the second wicket. His dismissal, however, slowed the run-rate before Umar and Tanvir slammed some boundaries in last three overs. Umar 22 came off 11 balls with four fours and Tanvir hit two humongous maximums in his five ball 17 to take their in close vicinity of 200-run mark.
Most of the home team bowlers suffered at the hands of Hafeez and co. Mpofu had forgettable day conceding 59 runs in his wicketless four overs equaling his previous worst performance in the format against South Africa two years ago at Kimberly.
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