Mon, 14 Mar 2011 - Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, World Cup 2011, 33rd match Group A - Bulletin

Asad, bowlers take Pakistan to knockout stage

A steady and sensible undefeated innings of 78 runs helped Pakistan to chase a revised but small target of 162 against Zimbabwe in a rain affected group A game played at Pallekele Stadium, Kandy.

With nearly two hours lost to rain, Pakistan were given a revised target of 162 to chase in 38 overs in accordance to Duckworth/Lewis method after rain had stopped the Zimbabwe batting effort for the second time in the day with score reading at 151 for the loss of seven wickets in the 40th over.

Pakistan reply to the chase wasn’t flashy but steadier with batsmen taking their time and looking to spend some time at the crease. Ahmad Shahzad had a fifth failure of the tournament in a succession dancing down to Raymond Price only to be stumped out for eight runs.

However, his partner Mohammad Hafeez (49 off 65 balls) combined with Asad Shafiq who was playing his first game of the tournament to put on valuable 82 runs with former playing some glorious drives both sides of the wicket.

Hafeez got out one run short of his fifty and was soon followed by Shahid Afridi to give Zimbabwe some hope but Asad played a sensible innings to make sure Pakistan romp home without more hiccups.

He took 97 balls and hit some nice pull shots off spinners and used his feet impeccable against them to keep the scoreboard ticking over. He was well complimented by senior pro Younis Khan and kept Asad’s company till the victory was achieved.

For Zimbabwe Price was the best bowler on the park taking two wickets and giving away just 21 runs in his eight troubling the Pakistan batsman regularly.

Earlier bowlers helped Pakistan to reduce Zimbabwe to 151 for the loss of seven wickets when second spell of heavy rain came to waste a lot of time.

After first rain break in 28th over, Zimbabwe scrapped to 151 for the loss of seven wickets in the 40th over when rain interrupted the game second time forcing umpires to decide that it should be end of the Zimbabwe innings and revised the target for Pakistan with mandatory powerplay reduced to eight overs and bowling and batting powerplays for four and three overs respectively.

After opting to bat first with swing and bounce to offer for the fast bowlers, Zimbabwe were rocked early by the opening pair of Umar Gul and Abdur Razzaq with score reading 13 for the loss of three wickets inside six overs.

Razzaq removed Brendon Taylor while Gul accounted for Regis Chakabva and Vusi Musi Sibanda putting Pakistan on the top.

And for the rest of the innings it remained the trend, with Wahab Riaz and Shahid Afridi taking a wicket each.

Craig Ervine and skipper Elton Chigumbura were bright spots in the Zimbabwe batting effort with Ervine scoring a classy fifty before castled by Mohammad Hafeez for 52.

He played some delightful square drives in his 82-ball innings including five hits to the fence but once he went it looked Zimbabwe innings will finished soon.

Chigumbura, however, had other ideas combining with former skipper Prosper Utseya to string together a partnership of 48 runs which was ended just before the second rain break.

His wicket was claimed by Gul who was easily the best bowler on the view taking three wickets and beating the bat with the bounce and swing more than once.

Chigumbura remained not out on 32 runs off 46 balls hitting two boundaries.

Man of the Match: Umar Gul

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