Sun, 18 Sep 2011 - Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, Pakistan Tour of Zimbabwe 2011, 2nd T20I - Bulletin

Hafeez stars again as Pakistan complete rout

All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez proved to wrecker-n-chief with both bat and ball yet again as Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe in the second and final t-20 by five runs. Hafeez backed his 38-ball 51 that played a major role in helping Pakistan to post 141, took three wickets for just 11 runs in three overs to puncture Zimbabwe’s chase. Zimbabwe’s reply to Pakistan’s total wasn’t auspicious losing top order without substantial contribution and could score only 136 for 7 in their allotted twenty overs. The victory has ensured that visitors gave their outgoing coach Waqar Younis a winning farewell and leave the African nation with a clean sheet.

The home team’s chase of never got going with Pakistan bowlers able to snare wickets frequently but there was some drama in the last over thanks to whirlwind Tatenda Taibu knock. Having 20 runs to score for the win, Taibu, who scored unbeaten 37 off 28, deposited Sohail Khan’s first ball into long-on stands and followed a sequence of 2, 2, 2 and 2 off next four balls which meant six runs needed off last ball. Sohail though kept his cool and beat Taibu with a well directed Yorker to earn his team a much deserved win. Zimbabwe not managing to win this game has meant that the home team failed to beat Pakistan in all three formats of the game on the tour.

Zimbabwean openers put on 28 for the first wicket but introduction of Saeed Ajmal gave Pakistan breakthrough. Ajmal bowled a wicket maiden first over dismissing Chamu Chibhabha for 11. Left arm pacer Junaid Khan bettered the situation for his team getting struggling Vusimuzi Sibanda and Zimbabwe began to recede.

Hafeez got into act with ball getting three wickets in consecutive overs. He claimed wickets of Cephas Zhuwao, Hamilton Masakadza and skipper Brendan Taylor in eight, tenth and twelfth overs consecutively to take stuffing out of Zimbabwean middle order. Junaid then castled Charles Coventry in 14th over to reduce the home to 6 for 71 before Taibu got into his groove.

Elton Chigumbura hit some lusty blows in his 18-ball 24 including three fours and a six and in Taibu’s company gave Zimbabwe some hope. Chigumbura was holed out in the deep while trying to go for a big shot and it was left for Taibu to see his team through. But, diminutive wicketkeeper batsmen despite trying his level best failed in a last hurdle.

After opting to bat first, Pakistan were pegged back upfront by Zimbabwe losing three wickets 34 inside six overs of powerplay but Hafeez continued on his merry way to boost his team to a competitive total. The visitors lost Asad Shafiq, Rameez Raja and out of form Shoaib Malik as Zimbabwe bowlers demonstrated far better discipline and accuracy than that in first game to ensure Pakistan didn’t have a rollicking start.

It didn’t bother Hafeez who kept hitting boundaries and alongwith Umar Akmal steered Pakistan to stability. The pair put on crucial 59 for the fourth wicket with Akmal happy to play a quiet role. Hafeez hit five fours and a solitary six of the Pakistan innings before Raymond Price prized his wicket out.Akmal couldn’t get the big shot away and most of his 28 runs came through singles and Misbah too was tied down. Zimbabwe kept pegging away with regular wickets as Pakistan were denied freebies that were aplenty in the first game.

Akmal’s scrappy 28 came off 28 balls and Misbah’s 13 ball tenure at the crease got him 15 runs. Yasir Shah and Sohail Tanvir hit an important boundary each that helped their side to get past 140.

For Zimbabwe, young fast bowlers bowled his four overs for just fifteen runs having wickets of Raja, Misbah and Tanvir to boast of. Price and Chigumbura also bowled their quota of fours without conceding many runs.