3-mob.com 
Luke Jongwe continued to impress on his return to the international fold as his inspired bowling performance helped Zimbabwe to a 19-run victory over Pakistan at Harare Sports Club.
The win means the series is now level in what is Zimbabwe’s first over Pakistan in the T20 format.
Having lost the toss, Zimbabwe found the going tough, with balls difficult to get away against the Pakistan speed merchants.
Brendan Taylor was the first to fall, trying to force the score along, as Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, facing most of the ball on the other end laboured, trying to get the ball away. Faheem Ashraf removed him for five.
Takudzwanashe Marumani came in next and was watchful early on, wary of his first ball duck in the first match and subsequently his first runs in international cricket. He would however fall for 13, getting the faintest inside tickle off a delivery by debutant Arshad Iqbal to keeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Wessly Madhevere was in next and got Kamunhukamwe to take ones and twos between the wicket. Madhevere’s attempt at a reverse sweep failed, a shot he didn’t need to have a go at, saw the ball crash into his stumps Danish Aziz for 16.
Regis Chakabva took a swing at the willow and scored the first six of the Zimbabwe innings – there was one more by Jongwe – scoring 18 off 14 balls before he was trapped leg before by Haris Rauf.
Tarisai Musakanda, in for Sean Williams, scored 13 and Jongwe seven were significant in getting Zimbabwe a modest 118 for the loss of nine wickets.
Mohammad Hasnain took two for 19, while Aziz was two for 29.
A score this low had never been defended at Harare Sports Club and fans of Zimbabwe would have hoped for better fielding and catching than in the first T20I.
In the first match, Rizwan was dropped on 13. This time he wasn’t, the first of Jongwe’s victims.
Fakhar Zaman, who had played at will against South Africa in the recent tour, was next to go. Two runs is all he could muster, Musakanda collecting at mid-on off Ryan Burl.
Burl returned for the wicket of Hafeez, Wellington Masakadza collecting the catch at long-on, the batter gone for five.
On the other end, Babar Azam’s elegance was there for all to see, finding space with deft touches and stunning regularity. A slower ball from Jongwe snared him, he attempted to muscle it only for Madhevere to collect at cover. He was gone for 41.
He was one of seven wickets which fell for just 21 runs as Pakistan were bowled out for 99 after 19.1 overs.
Luke Jongwe took four for 18 and Ryan Burl two for 21.
The champagne will go to Jongwe, but Taylor’s captaincy, the sensible use of his bowlers was pivotal in this victory.
Two records fell at Harare Sports Club. 118 is the lowest T20I score defended at the ground. And 99 is the lowest score Zimbabwe has bowled Pakistan out for in T20I.
And the win
Comments
Loading…