3rd Match: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Sharjah, 28 Oct 2001 Suhael Ahmed |
Pakistan innings:
Zimbabwe innings: |
Waqar struck first bowling off a shorter run but with a straighter arm action. He set up Grant Flower with two outswingers and then a couple of balls that came in. He then produced a outswinging ball on the stumps for an edge to Taufeeq Umar in the slips and Zimbabwe were 5 for 1 after 2 overs.
Marillier was uncomfortable against the pace and bounce extracted by Wasim. He was struck once on the arm and got an apology from Wasim but then was yorked. A superb inswinging yorker got through to his off stump and Andy Flower joined Carlisle. Both saw off the Pakistan opening pair although there were a few edges and shots that fell short of the fielders.
Shoaib Akhtar was the first change for the 12th over, replacing Waqar and was pulled for a four by Carlisle. Abdur Razzaq replaced Wasim and Zimbabwe reached 50 for 2 after 13 overs with a long chase ahead. In Shoaib’s second over a mistimed pull by Andy Flower dropped too far away from Saeed Anwar at short mid wicket and was followed by another 4 cut away to the point rope.
Razzaq was off target in his first two overs, perhaps suffering after his fine batting effort and after 15 overs Zimbabwe were 64 for 2 with Carlisle at 35 off 50 balls and Andy Flower 21 off 27 balls.
In the next over by Ervine the second ball was a full toss and it was pulled over backward square leg for Afridi’s 5th six. Murphy then called his team into a huddle for a talk as the shoulders had started dropping. Streak was brought back in the 26th over to help with a breakthrough as Murphy had realised Pakistan were poised for a big total. Heath’s fifth ball was on leg stump and Afridi moved to leg and let fly a rocket like drive just past the bowler for four and after 26 overs Pakistan were 130 for 1. Saeed Anwar was on 36 and Afridi on 64.
Streak soon struck back bowling Afridi with a straight ball when Afridi moved away to leg for a hoik, gone for 67 off 81 balls with 5 sixers and Pakistan at 136 for 2. Youhana came in and played steadily with Saeed Anwar in the lead role scoring freely on either side of the wicket. He was out soon after hitting a huge six over long off a victim of tiredness and some competitive gamesmanship. He had his wrist wrapped up after a strain and on the next ball Grant Flower ran into him going for a save and Anwar fell down onto his damaged arm. Brother Andy made a funny comment, saying, ‘c’mon Grant now he wont be able to do much with his wrists’. Facing the next ball he was bowled by Grant going for a tired heave after an excellent 65 off 80 balls and a six. Pakistan was 188 for 3.
Then there was a mini collapse as Youhana followed soon, holing out to sub Olonga going for a lofted drive over mid off for 26. Younis Khan and new man Abdur Razzaq partnered up and saw Pakistan through the crisis to a total of 244 when Younis Khan was bowled by Friend while going for runs in the 46th over for 17 off 21 balls but Razzaq was playing a fine knock. Wasim Akram came in to join Razzaq and some accurate bowling slowed the scoring rate but in the 47th over a ferocious 4 by Razzaq to mid on pushed it back up and Pakistan were at 253 after 47 overs.
Go for runs was the order but Razzaq was run out off a direct throw by Murphy for 45 off only36 balls after a very useful innings for Pakistan in the 48th over. Rashid Latif joined Wasim Akram who hit a useful 4 off the 4th ball of the 49th over and Pakistan were 265 for 6 with one over to go.
Friend bowled the last over and his second ball was hit for a straight six by Wasim followed by a one-day edged four to third man. He missed the fourth but drove the fifth for two and a single off the last to get Pakistan upto 279/6 in 50 overs. Wasim had hit 22 off 14 balls and Pakistan set a large 280 run target for Zimbabwe.
The highlight of the first 15 over session in this match was a great stumping by Andy Flower standing up to medium pacer Brent. Taufeeq Umar who had been batting well, tried to flick a ball outside leg and missed. After a short walk outside the crease he looked back to find that he had been smartly stumped. All in all it was a fine piece of work by Andy Flower. Taufeeq had hit 18 off 28 balls with 3 excellent fours. Today he looked in form and seems he is a good find for Pakistan.
Shahid Afridi was in a different mood and decided to bat far more carefully and after 13 overs had scored 21 with 1 4 and 2 sixes off 38 balls. Brent has been a bit unlucky when it seemed he had trapped Afridi in front but the appeal was declined during the 12th over. In the 14th over Afrid tried to open up but clever slower ball caused him to mistime and was unable to get the ball away.
Saeed Anwar has been timing well with a great cut to the point rope and after 15 over Pakistan was 60 for 1 with Afridi on 21 and Anwar with 11 runs.
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Date-stamped : 28 Oct2001 - 22:25