ZIMBABWE let slip another victory opportunity when they lost to Pakistan by 11 runs in the first T20I at Harare Sports Club this afternoon to remain winless in 15 T20I against the subcontinent giants.
Captain Sean Williams won the toss and sent Pakistan in, the decision paid off in the second over of the visitors’ innings when the dangerous Babar Azam was caught at backward point by Ryan Burl off Blessing Muzarabani for two runs.
The turning point of the match came in the fifth over when the in-form Mohammad Rizwan on 13, top-edged a Richard Ngarava short ball only to be dropped by Tinashe Kamunhukamwe at mid-off.
Zimbabwe’s fielding was an all you can eat buffet, dropped catches, caught brilliant ones, misfields, brilliant run out and the keeper conceding byes.
In a game of small margins, Zimbabwe conceded 15 extras compared to Pakistan’s three.
Luke Jongwe marked his return to international cricket with figures of two for 24 in three overs and with a bit of luck, he could have had three wickets.
Williams used seven bowlers and did not let the Pakistan batsmen get used to the pace of wicket strangling them in the middle overs with spin.
The spin trio of Wesley Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza and Burl bowled eight overs for 46, took two wickets, going at 5.75 an over.
Fakhar Zaman was rushed through his defence by Madhevere, playing for bounce to a ball that kept a bit low and was bowled through the gate for 14 runs.
Pakistan wickets fell at regular intervals but Rizwan made the most of his second life getting to 50 runs from 48 balls as he fought a lone battle to give his bowlers something to defend.
Muzarabani complemented the spinners, conceding just 22 runs in his four overs and a wicket to go with it.
Rizwan made sure Pakistan did not capitulate further by scoring an unbeaten 82 from 61 balls.
Pakistan went into the innings break with the momentum after they scored 20 runs in the final over of their innings which was bowled by Ngarava.
Set a paltry target of 149 runs to win, Zimbabwe’s opening pair of Kamunhukamwe and Madhevere got off to a flyer scoring 18 runs from the first two overs.
Madhevere scored 14 from nine balls but one shot too many and spooned a Mohammad Hasnain short ball into the hands of Pakistan captain Azam.
Debutant Tadiwanashe Marumani did not give himself a chance to feel the pace of the wicket, taking on a Hasnain bouncer and like Madhevere he could only find the hands of Azam at mid-off to be dismissed for a duck.
The inform Craig Ervine joined Kamunhukamwe at the crease sharing a 56-run partnership for the third wicket to give Zimbabwe a chance.
Ervine was the chief enforcer in the partnership hitting Usman Qadir out of the attack and Mohammad Nawaz, scoring 34 runs from 23 balls.
Just as the Chevrons were threatening to get away from Pakistan, Kamunhukamwe gave his wicket away in the 11th over, needlessly charging down the wicket but was beaten in the air by Mohammad Hafeez and was stumped by Rizwan for 29 runs.
As often happens with Zimbabwe, one wicket brought two, Ervine who had looked good all afternoon for his 34 from 23, top-edged a reverse sweep to an Qadir quicker ball and was caught brilliantly by Nawaz back peddling.
At 79 for four after 11.2 overs Pakistan were back in the match.
Zimbabwe captain, Williams did not last long as he tried to attack Qadir but his sweep shot could only find Zaman in the deep.
At that point, you sensed it was curtains for Zimbabwe.
Jongwe tried to win it for the hosts towards the end but he was left with a little bit too much to do at the end. He remained unbeaten on 30 from 23 balls.
Zimbabwe who had put themselves into a winning position with the ball have squandered another victory opportunity.
Williams in his post match interview did not mince his words and was disappointed that this team did not win the match.
“It’s inexcusable the number of catches Zimbabwe dropped, especially against a side like Pakistan,” said Williams.
“I feel that second partnership to accompany that third wicket partnership was missing.
“The wicket played into our favour and winning the toss was crucial, it’s inexcusable to lose a game like that.”
