ZIMBABWE failed to build on their good performances in the field yesterday as they went down by 13 runs to Pakistan in the first QMobile Twenty20 cricket match at Harare Sports Club.
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That would be the story for Zimbabwe for the rest of the match as the batsman got themselves in, only for them to gist their wickets away at crucial periods of the match.
Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura led the chase with 31, but his run out first ball of the last over ended the hopes of the home team, which had lost wickets regularly in its pursuit of Pakistan’s mediocre total.
Hosts Zimbabwe will look to bounce back after a loss in the first match of the T20 worldwide series against Pakistan.
Zimbabwe side is well aware of Pakistani weak points and strength, as few months back they played a home series against them.
However, Pakistan’s resistance was far from over as Wasim (19) and Mohammad Rizwan (33 not-out) notched up their team’s highest partnership stand of 46 runs for the sixth wicket.
Pakistan cricket team on Thursday morning left for Zimbabwe to play a couple of limited overs series against the hosts, officials said.
33- number of instances when Pakistan have scored less than 137 in a T20I match irrespective of batting first or second- which is now the most for any team.
On the field, Zimbabwe’s bowling has been their greatest weakness, particularly at the end of the innings when their opposition has often been allowed to run amok.
“We took the wrong options at the wrong time, and as a result we lost the game”, said Chigumbura after the game.
“It’s disappointing to lose a game like this, the wicket was a bit slow and hard, but requiring 6 runs an over, it was good to bat on”.
“There are so many ways of looking at this, we got soft dismissals, and I think we did not give the right application at the right time”, said Chibhabha.
Pakistan have faced a spate of fitness problems with their players since previous year with its bowlers causing headache for the national selectors.
“We have come close on many occasions but are just losing”.
Elton Chigumbura (capt), Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Graeme Cremer, Tinashe Panyangara, Christopher Mpofu, Prosper Utseya, Taurai Muzarabani, Luke Jongwe, John Nyumbu, Malcolm Waller.
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The wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan finished unbeaten on 33.
