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Recap: Pakistan win third ODI and series against Zimbabwe
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- Web Desk
- Nov 28, 2024

BULAWAYO: After scoring 303 runs on Thursday, behind an incredible maiden century from Kamran Ghulam, Pakistan would dominate Zimbabwe on the bowling side, winning the match by 99 runs and the series 2-1.
PAKISTAN’S INNINGS
Kamran Ghulam was the star of the day. It was already an incredible showing when he scored his maiden ODI half century in the 32nd over in emphatic fashion, as he launched a four over the mid-wicket fielder. However, an unsatisfied Ghulam kept up the pressure, and soon scored his maiden ODI century in similar fashion to his earlier milestone, with a four he blasted to leg side. He scored a total of 103 runs off 99 deliveries, and hit ten fours and four sixes. Ghulam’s fantastic knock ended on a slower delivery from Richard Ngarava that the Pakistani batter hit to deep cover, where Mandane took his second catch of the day. As he returned to the pavilion, his teammates gave him a standing ovation.
But before Ghulam took over the match, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique opened for Pakistan. The two scored a great partnership of 58 runs off 73 deliveries, before Ayub was dismissed in the 13th over, on a delivery from Faraz Akram that he attempted to hit over deep square leg. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Ayub didn’t get enough power on it, as Clive Madande caught the ball right on the fence. The Pakistani opener scored 31 runs off 37 deliveries before he was sent off, hitting three fours and one six in the process.
Abdullah Shafique brought up his half century in the 23rd over. He made 50 runs off 67 deliveries, hitting five fours and one six along the way. However, right after he made the sixth half century of his test career, he was dismissed on a delivery from Sikandar Raza. The delivery hit him plumb on the pad as Shafique missed his attempt at a sweep, and the umpires finger went up immediately. After making 58 runs alongside Ayub, Shafique had another great partnership with Kamran Ghulam, as the two made 54 runs together before the dismissal.
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Pakistan skipper Mohammed Rizwan was dismissed in the 40th over, after he scored 37 runs off 47 deliveries. Rizwan was sent off on a delivery from Raza that he sent straight to long on, where Dion Myers was waiting to take the catch. Before his innings came to an end, Rizwan was part of the largest partnership yet for Pakistan with 89 runs scored off 92 balls.
Salman Agha put on a great performance late in the innings, as he scored 30 runs off 26 deliveries, before Ngarava picked up his second wicket. The delivery took a leading edge as the ball popped up to Brian Bennett at mid-off, who took the catch. Tayyab Tahir also scored 29 runs, 16 of which came from four fours and remained not out.
Irfan Khan was the last wicket to fall for Pakistan. The 21 year old only managed to score three runs before he was dismissed on the fifth ball he faced. Blessing Muzarabani took his first wicket on a delivery that Irfan charged down the pitch to meet, only to chip the ball to long on where Sean Williams took the catch.
After 50 overs, Pakistan ended with a total of 303, losing six wickets in the process.
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ZIMBABWE’S INNINGS
Zimbabwe were all out for 204 runs, as Pakistan systematically broke in what was an all-round effort from the men in green’s bowlers.
Zimbabwe began to struggle early, as Said Ayub took two wickets in the third over. Ayub’s delivery was hit by Joylord Gumbie straight to Tayyab Tahir at mid-wicket. In came Dion Myers, who hit a four immediately, only to be sent off right after. Myers tried his hand at another boundary, but didn’t get enough elevation on his sweep, and instead found the hands of Faisal Akram at the deep backward square leg fence.
Abrar Ahmed took two wickets as well, beginning with Tadiwanashe Marumani, who missed the delivery as it hit him on the pad. The umpires finger went up and Abrar had gotten a wicket-maiden in his first over. His second wicket came much later in the 34th over. This time it was Brian Bennet, who attempted to hit the delivery behind square, but instead edges it to Salman Agha at short fine leg. Bennet scored the second highest total for Zimbabwe with 37 runs off 27 deliveries.
Aamer Jamal had a fine showing as well, which began with the dismissal of Zimbabwe Skipper Craig Ervine in the 26th over. Ervine attempted to pull the delivery outside off, but instead the ball ricocheted off his bat and onto leg stump. But before he was dismissed, he managed to make 51 runs off 63 deliveries, which was the best batting performance for Zimbabwe. Two overs later, Jamal would send off Sikandar Raza, with a shorter delivery that the Zimbabwe batter hit to deep square leg, where Abdullah Shafique was ready to take the catch.
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Kamran Ghulam took his maiden ODI wicket in the 35th over, adding to an already superb performance as he made his maiden ODI century earlier in the day. He dismissed Faraz Akram, who hit the delivery towards deep square leg with plenty of height, but not enough distance to clear Shafique who took his second catch of the day.
Faisal Akram took one wicket in the 40th over as he sent off Richard Ngarava. Ngarava didn’t react in time to the delivery which ended up taking out the middle stump, putting Pakistan one more wicket away from closing out the series.
But before Haris Rauf took the final wicket of the game, he would take his first in the 18th over, dismissing Sean Williams. The delivery found the inside edge of Williams bat before ricocheting onto the stumps. Rauf’s second wicket would be the one to end the match and it came in the 41st over, as Clive Madande failed to get his bat to the ball before it struck his back pad.
The umpires finger went up one last time, and Pakistan had won the ODI series against Zimbabwe 2-1.
