Mohammad Hafeez produced his best T20I performance with both bat and ball to help Pakistan roll over Zimbabwe in the first T20I. It was an embarrassing thumping for a team that has gone down steadily as the tour progressed.
Ramiz Raja and Kyle Jarvis made debuts for their respective teams, as Zimbabwe put Pakistan in on a perfect batting track. Hard-hitting Charles Coventry and Cephas Zhuwao also made come backs. Mohammad Hafeez, enjoying a spectacular tour, and Asad Shafiq made mockery of the decision as both toyed with the hosts’ bowling, which comprised of only three front line bowlers.
Shafiq’s stroke play showcased his all-round talent. He played spectacularly on both sides of the square, hitting crispy cuts and eye-catching pulls. He hit Mpofu for four consecutive fours in one over, as Pakistan raced towards 50 in just 4.2 overs.
Hafeez despite playing second fiddle wasn’t slow either, but he went into extra gear after unfortunate demise of Shafiq. Shafiq was run out for 38 (off just 23 balls with 6 fours and a six) when he slipped attempting a run as he tried to return back from middle of the pitch.
Ramiz Raja joined Hafeez and both took the score to 147 from 74 for one in the 7th over. Hafeez gave a tough chance at long leg as his six brought up his first T20 fifty. Ramiz hit two fours in a somewhat struggling debut innings of 23 off 27 balls. Coventry grabbed Hafeez at mid wicket when he mistimed, a rarity, a full toss from Chamu Chibhabha. He made 71 off just 48 balls which included six classy boundaries and 3 sixes.
Umar Akmal and Sohail Tanvir promoted up the order by Misbah, brought life into a slowing innings by finishing strongly. Sohail hit two sixes in the final over bowled by Mpofu which cost him 18 runs. Pakistan finished at 198 for 4, giving Zimbabwe a tough challenge.
In reply Pakistan bowled well as Zimbabwe crumbled under pressure. Misbah took a stunning catch, running and lunging back full strength, to send back Vusi Sibanda and start the rot.
Pakistan chipped away regularly and Zimbabwe’s innings never took off for a reasonable length of time. Sohail Khan took two wickets in his first over. Zimbabwe reached 63 for 3 in 8 overs and looked to regain the lost ground, But to their horror, Mohammad Hafeez was given the ball and he struck two in two in his first over to leave them reeling again.
Every thing Hafeez touched turned to gold as he came back to finish the innings and misery for Zimbabwe by cleaning up Ray price, the last wicket. Before that Charles Coventry sparked for a brief period but it was never going to be enough at this stage. He made 30 off just 13 balls with the help of 4 fours and a six. Zimbabwe folded for just 113 in 15.2 overs as Pakistan won by a hefty margin of 85 runs.
Man of the Match Hafeez took 4 for 10 in just 14 deliveries, what a series he has had!
Pakistan have gone from strengt5h to strength in this tour as opposed to the hosts who have lost the plot after putting up brave fight in the one-off Test and the first ODI. They have last chance to salvage some pride on 18th when both teams play 2nt T20I, the last fixture of the series.
Summarised Scores:
Pakistan 198/4 (Hafeez 71, Shafiq 38; Chibhabha 1/17) beat Zimbabwe 113/10 in 15.2 overs (Coventry 30; Hafeez 4/10, Sohail Khan 2/13) by 85 runs
Man of the Match: Mohammad Hafeez
Match Report – 1st T20I: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Harare Sports Club, 16 September 2011
Shafiq’s stroke play showcased his all-round talent. He played spectacularly on both sides of the square, hitting crispy cuts and eye-catching pulls. He hit Mpofu for four consecutive fours in one over, as Pakistan raced towards 50 in just 4.2 overs.
Hafeez despite playing second fiddle wasn’t slow either, but he went into extra gear after unfortunate demise of Shafiq. Shafiq was run out for 38 (off just 23 balls with 6 fours and a six) when he slipped attempting a run as he tried to return back from middle of the pitch.
Ramiz Raja joined Hafeez and both took the score to 147 from 74 for one in the 7th over. Hafeez gave a tough chance at long leg as his six brought up his first T20 fifty. Ramiz hit two fours in a somewhat struggling debut innings of 23 off 27 balls. Coventry grabbed Hafeez at mid wicket when he mistimed, a rarity, a full toss from Chamu Chibhabha. He made 71 off just 48 balls which included six classy boundaries and 3 sixes.
Umar Akmal and Sohail Tanvir promoted up the order by Misbah, brought life into a slowing innings by finishing strongly. Sohail hit two sixes in the final over bowled by Mpofu which cost him 18 runs. Pakistan finished at 198 for 4, giving Zimbabwe a tough challenge.
In reply Pakistan bowled well as Zimbabwe crumbled under pressure. Misbah took a stunning catch, running and lunging back full strength, to send back Vusi Sibanda and start the rot.
Pakistan chipped away regularly and Zimbabwe’s innings never took off for a reasonable length of time. Sohail Khan took two wickets in his first over. Zimbabwe reached 63 for 3 in 8 overs and looked to regain the lost ground, But to their horror, Mohammad Hafeez was given the ball and he struck two in two in his first over to leave them reeling again.
Every thing Hafeez touched turned to gold as he came back to finish the innings and misery for Zimbabwe by cleaning up Ray price, the last wicket. Before that Charles Coventry sparked for a brief period but it was never going to be enough at this stage. He made 30 off just 13 balls with the help of 4 fours and a six. Zimbabwe folded for just 113 in 15.2 overs as Pakistan won by a hefty margin of 85 runs.
Man of the Match Hafeez took 4 for 10 in just 14 deliveries, what a series he has had!
Pakistan have gone from strengt5h to strength in this tour as opposed to the hosts who have lost the plot after putting up brave fight in the one-off Test and the first ODI. They have last chance to salvage some pride on 18th when both teams play 2nt T20I, the last fixture of the series.
Summarised Scores:
Pakistan 198/4 (Hafeez 71, Shafiq 38; Chibhabha 1/17) beat Zimbabwe 113/10 in 15.2 overs (Coventry 30; Hafeez 4/10, Sohail Khan 2/13) by 85 runs
Man of the Match: Mohammad Hafeez
Published in SportPulse.net on Sep 16 2011
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