Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Salman Ali Agha: I just wanted to vary my pace, there was not much spin today as compared to the last game but still enough. If you vary your pace there was enough help to get them out. I just wanted to vary, bowl a bit quicker and then try slower ones. Both youngsters Faisal and Abrar bowled really well, varied their paces which is you always talk about - vary the paces - on these conditions. We are very comfortable (with the target). We should chase down but we still have to bat well because we all know that low totals can be tricky but we will try to win this game

Pakistan brought their A-game forward with the ball and all the spinners had a fantastic outing. Abrar Ahmed and Faisal Akram bowled well in tandem while vice-captain Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub were also miserly with their bowling. Zimbabwe don't have enough runs on the board but given the fragility of Pakistan's batting line-up and the spin on offer, you can't rule out a hiccup. Today, though, Zimbabwe don't have that slight psychological advantage, as they haven't crossed the 200 mark and there were no substantial partnerships. Dion Myers, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams got decent starts but couldn't push on, as Pakistan kept finding ways to fox the batters. Everyone impressed and the pacers had a light day at the office. I think we'll see the introduction of spin straightaway at the start of Pakistan's chase. Shashwat Kumar will be bringing you all the action shortly

32.3
W
Faisal Akram to Muzarabani, OUT, Trying to go for another monster hit and perishing in the process Tosses it up on middle and off, gave him extra air and he went big again; plenty of height but not enough distance, caught at deep midwicket as Zimbabwe capitulate against spin, only scrapping their way to 145 which doesn't look enough

B Muzarabani c Abdullah Shafique b Faisal Akram 11 (11m 11b 1x4 1x6) SR: 100.00

32.2
6
Faisal Akram to Muzarabani, SIX, That is emphatic! Too much flight on middle and overpitched too, gets right behind the line and biffs it with oomph over Faisal's head for a huge six. Hefty blow!
32.1
0
Faisal Akram to Muzarabani, no run, Over the wicket, beautiful tossed up wide of off and it spun back late, he goes for an almighty heave and misses it altogether bringing a grin on Faisal's face

END OF OVER:
32 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | ZIM: 139/9 | RR: 4.34

  • Blessing Muzarabani5 (8b)
  • Trevor Gwandu1 (3b)
  • Abrar Ahmed8-2-33-4
  • Faisal Akram5-0-13-0
31.6
1
Abrar Ahmed to Muzarabani, 1 run, Tossed on middle, creates room to break free and hits it hard in the spaces at deep midwicket
31.5
4
Abrar Ahmed to Muzarabani, FOUR, That's more like it. Snap of the wrists and rotation helps him generate plenty of power; too short on middle, he pounces on it and seized on it, jauntily pulling it away in front of square leg for a four, crowd liked it
31.4
1
Abrar Ahmed to Gwandu, 1 run, tantalizingly in the air and dropping short of mid-off; think there is no point hanging around; try get some boundaries before the spinners get you
31.3
0
Abrar Ahmed to Gwandu, no run, Floated up, stumps to stumps line, defended to the leg side
31.2
0
Abrar Ahmed to Gwandu, no run, Over the wicket, good length and straightens at leg; prolonged appeal for an lbw, plenty of doubt as it was going down leg; umpire remains unmoved

So, where are you guys following this game from? And I was wondering, are you also an active cricketer?

31.1
W
Abrar Ahmed to Bennett, OUT, Over the wicket, dropped short and turning in at middle, yanks his front leg out of the way and wanted to hoik that out of sight; couldn't find the requisite elevation and finds Kamran at short midwicket who takes a nifty catch; making things ridiculously easy for the visitors

BJ Bennett c Kamran Ghulam b Abrar Ahmed 14 (41m 27b 0x4 0x6) SR: 51.85

END OF OVER:
31 | 1 Run | ZIM: 133/8 | RR: 4.29

  • Blessing Muzarabani0 (6b)
  • Brian Bennett14 (26b)
  • Faisal Akram5-0-13-0
  • Abrar Ahmed7-2-27-3
30.6
0
Faisal Akram to Muzarabani, no run, now the legbreak, turns back and he picks it, hurriedly defended off the backfoot
30.5
0
Faisal Akram to Muzarabani, no run, Excellent wrong'un, he didn't pick it, hoping it won't get an edge; did too much
30.4
0
Faisal Akram to Muzarabani, no run, Flighted on middle, knocked back to the bowler
30.3
0
Faisal Akram to Muzarabani, no run, Beautiful legbreak, discernable turn towards leg, somehow survives
30.2
1
Faisal Akram to Bennett, 1 run,
30.1
0
Faisal Akram to Bennett, no run, Over the wicket, landed fuller and wide of off, hacked to backward point

END OF OVER:
30 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | ZIM: 132/8 | RR: 4.40

  • Blessing Muzarabani0 (2b)
  • Brian Bennett13 (24b)
  • Abrar Ahmed7-2-27-3
  • Faisal Akram4-0-12-0
29.6
0
Abrar Ahmed to Muzarabani, no run, Blocked back to the bowler
29.5
0
Abrar Ahmed to Muzarabani, no run, Dropped by the fielder at short leg, late light flick of the wrist while sitting deep in the crease and Kamran had little to no reaction time
29.4
W
Abrar Ahmed to Ngarava, OUT, Floated up a googly on a length and it spins a wee bit, beating his ambitious swing down the ground; was early through the shot and didn't account for that little turn as well. Lovely ball; smart tactics to bring the fielder in and lure him with the bait

R Ngarava b Abrar Ahmed 2 (5m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.00

29.3
1
Abrar Ahmed to Bennett, 1 run, Over the wicket, googly that follows him; was in the air for a little moment, Abrar dives to his right but it didn't carry and trickled away to long-on
29.2
1
Abrar Ahmed to Ngarava, 1 run, Around the wicket, short of a length and spinning in at middle, shanks it away to long-on
29.1
1
Abrar Ahmed to Bennett, 1 run, Fullish and dipping at leg, worked to midwicket
29.1
1w
Abrar Ahmed to Bennett, 1 wide, Over the wicket, tossed right up to the toes, outside leg-stump, wide signalled

END OF OVER:
29 | 3 Runs | ZIM: 128/7 | RR: 4.41

  • Richard Ngarava1 (3b)
  • Brian Bennett11 (22b)
  • Faisal Akram4-0-12-0
  • Abrar Ahmed6-2-23-2
28.6
0
Faisal Akram to Ngarava, no run, Faster on a length and it bounces steeply on a middle stump line, trying to jab it away and ends up making no connection; beautiful bowling, settled into a rhythm quickly today
28.5
1
Faisal Akram to Bennett, 1 run, Fuller and spinning in, plays with the turn to deep square
28.4
1
Faisal Akram to Ngarava, 1 run, Steps back and punches it firmly into the covers