Pakistan 157 for 4 (Babar 82, Hafeez 36, Muzarbani 2-26) beat Zimbabwe 156 for 6 (Madhevere 70, Rauf 2-25, 2-37) by six wickets
Zimbabwe have perhaps exceeded expectations on this tour so far, but they turned in one of their more lackadaisical performances today, as Pakistan cantered to a six-wicket win in the first T20I between the sides. Opting to bat first, Zimbabwe were pegged back early, and Pakistan peppered them with regular wickets as the visitors struggled to build momentum. Only Wesley Madhevere really appeared comfortable with what were batting-friendly conditions, bolstering his reputation with a classy 48-ball 70 to give his side 156 to defend. It was never close to par, and Babar Azam punished Zimbabwe for it, countering with his own elegant innings, a 55-ball 82 to run the target down with seven balls to spare.
Wahab Riaz breached one of the basic Covid-19 regulations when he applied saliva on the match ball during Pakistan’s first T20I against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi on Saturday, necessitating a brief pause in play was the ball was sanitised. The incident took place in the 11th over of the Zimbabwe innings, which Riaz was bowling. Umpires Aleem Dar and Asia Yaqoob spotted the indiscretion of Riaz’s part, and though there wasn’t an official warning, Riaz was asked to leave the ball on the ground. There was a hold-up, and play resumed only after the reserve umpires had brought out wipes, which were used to clean the ball by the umpires. According to ICC regulations, a second indiscretion would have resulted in an official warning, while a third would be penalised with five runs for the batting team.
Pakistan rested Shaheen Afridi for the game, but with Zimbabwe captain Chamu Chibhabha a walking wicket on current form, it almost appeared inevitable he would fall early, Shaheen or not. Mohammad Hasnain, fresh off a five-for, needed just two balls to send him back, leaving the usual pair of Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams to attempt a rebuild. Taylor’s cameo meant Zimbabwe’s start was respectable, but his side needed more from him, and when he holed out for 20, it was a bitter blow.
Enter Madhevere. The 20-year old is without doubt the bright spark of this tour for the visitors, and when he rocked back to knock Usman Qadir out of the park off a delivery there was really nothing wrong with, it was evident he would be key to his side’s hopes.
Partners at the other end were in short supply, though. Williams couldn’t carry on beyond 25, handing Qadir his first T20I wicket when he charged at the legspinner, only to miss and watch the ball cannon into his stumps. Sikandar Raza was done by the extra pace from Wahab, scooping the ball up from the shoulder of the bat to be forced off cheaply, while Burl’s stuttering innings heaped even more pressure on Madhevere to keep the runs flowing.
He did that, brilliantly, bringing up his half-century in just 35 balls and following up with successive boundaries off Faheem, and was aided by Elton…
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