BRISBANE: Fast bowlers Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz led the Pakistani bowling attack after Misbah and Wahab's heroics with the bat to give Pakistan a much needed World Cup victory against Zimbabwe by 20 runs on Sunday.
Chasing 236 to win, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 215 with Pakistan left-arm seamers Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz taking four wickets apiece at Brisbane´s
By GEO ENGLISH
March 01, 2015
BRISBANE: Fast bowlers Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz led the Pakistani bowling attack after Misbah and Wahab's heroics with the bat to give Pakistan a much needed World Cup victory against Zimbabwe by 20 runs on Sunday.
Chasing 236 to win, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 215 with Pakistan left-arm seamers Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz taking four wickets apiece at Brisbane´s Gabba ground.
Brendan Taylor top-scored for the African side with 50.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq struck a defiant 73 in a modest total of 235 for seven in the Pool B match while Riaz hit a career-best 54 not out from 46 balls.
Wahab Riaz was adjudicated man of the match for his brilliant all-round performance.
Earlier in the day, captain Misbah opted to bat in hopes of putting up a reasonable total against Zimbabwe, but continuing their dismal performance, the game got of to a tumbling start with Pakistan losing Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shahzad with only four runs on the scoreboard.
Misbah's decision to bat first did not go Pakistan's way in the critical World Cup fixture.
Pakistan had made one change from the last match against West Indies inducting fast bowler Rahat Ali and leaving out senior batsman Younis Khan.
Captain Misbah had urged his side to follow the example of Imran Khan´s victorious team, who won the World Cup when the tournament was last staged in Australia and New Zealand 23 years ago.
Pakistan, has been engulfed by a series of on and off-field controversies, which saw eight squad members fined for breaking a curfew and chief selector Moin Khan sent home for visiting a casino, have lost both of their opening matches – by 76 runs to India and 150 runs against the West Indies.
The crucial victory against Zimbabwe was very much needed to lift the team's morale.
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And there goes the last wicket; Chigumbura out, Pakistan win
Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 20 runs as Chigumbura is caught behind on the bowling of Wahab Riaz. This was Riaz's 4th wicket.
Panyangara run out; Pakistan almost home
Panyangara was run out by Wahab Riaz on his own bowling.
Irfan ends up with figures of 4 for 30
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Zimbabwe take it to the wire, need 28 off 12
Panyangara and Chigumbura show resolve to fight back till the very end as Zimbabwe reach 208/8 after 48 overs.
Chigumbura escapes run-out scare; Zimbabwe 189/8
Elton Chigumbura was nearly ran himself out when he took on bowler Sohail Khan. Zimbabwe require another 47 runs with 2 wickets and 36 balls remaining.
Wahab strikes again, Mupariwa goes without scoring
Wahab Riaz took his 3rd wicket as Umar Akmal managed to grab the second catch in the over after dropping at least a couple of catches earlier on. Zimbabwe now require another 65 runs with 2 wickets and 60 balls remaining.
Ervine out for 14; Zimbabwe lose 7th wicket
Craig Ervine caught Umar Akmal bowled Wahab Riaz for 14 (29b 1x4 0x6) SR: 48.27. Wahab Riaz takes his second wicket of the evening.
Irfan strikes again; Solomon Mire out for 8
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Zimbabwe now need another 76 runs in 15 overs
Zimbabwe require 76 more runs with 5 wickets in hands and 15 overs remaining. They are 160/5 with Ervine 10(13) and Solomon Mire on 5(10) after 35 overs.
Williams out; Rahat takes his first wicket
Sean Williams c. Shehzad b. Rahat Ali 33 (32b 2x4 0x6) SR: 103.12. Zimbabwe are 150/5 after 33.5 overs.
Zimbabwe need 86 more runs in 17 overs
Zimbabwe require another 86 runs with 6 wickets and 17 overs remaining. Sean Williams batting on 33(30) and Craig Ervine on 5(10). Zimbabwe are 150/4 after 33 overs.
Taylor out after reaching 50
Brendon Taylor has been caught behind on the bowling of Wahab Riaz after reaching his half-century in 72 balls hitting six boundaries. He also managed to build a 50 runs partnership with Sean Williams 17*. Zimbabwe are 126/4 after 30 overs.
Taylor, Williams up the ante; Zimbabwe reach 100
Brendon Taylor and Williams have launched a counter-attack against Pakistan pacers hitting back to back boundaries to reach 105/3 after 25 overs.
Masakadza out; Irfan breaks partnership
Hamilton Masakadza lost his cool and skied Irfan’s delivery and was caught by skipper Misbah at mid-off. He made 29(54) Zimbabwe are 74/3 after 22 overs.
Zimbabwe reach 50 after 16 overs
Zimbabwe have managed to score 52/2 at the end of 16 overs with Hamilton Masakadza batting on 23(40) and Brendon Taylor on 8(23).
Zimbabwe suffer double blow; 28/2 after 10 overs
Pakistan's 7-feet tall fast bowler Mohammad Irfan hit twice in his first 5 overs to take wickets of the both Zimbabwean openers. They are struggling at 28/2 after 10 overs.
Raza out; Irfan takes second wicket
Opening batsman Sikandar Raza is out caught Haris bowled Irfan for 8(15). Zimbabwe are 22/2 after 7 overs. He got out in the same fashion as his opening partner Chibhabha.
Chibhabha out; Zimbabwe 14/1 after 4.4 overs
Opener Chibhabha is out caught Haris bowled Irfan for 9 on 18 balls. Zimbabwe are 14/1 after 4.4 overs.
Irfan, Sohail start Pakistan's defence
Fast bowlers Mohammad Irfan and Sohail Khan have started off Pakistan's defence of 235 runs. Zimbabwe are 5/0 with Chamu Chibhabha on 5 and Sikandar Raza yet to open his account at the end of 2 overs.
Pakistan set below-par 236 target for Zimbabwe
Thanks to Wahab Riaz’s maiden fifty in ODIs, Pakistan got to a score of 235 for the loss of 7 wickets.
Riaz scored 54 runs off 46 balls with four boundaries and a six and remained not out.
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Pakistan 162/6 with 10 overs to go
Pakistan is struggling at 162 for the loss of 6 wickets. Misbah is not out on 63(109) while Wahab Riaz is batting on 6(9).
Maqsood out after promising 21
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Afridi out on second ball
Shahid Afrdidi got out only on the second ball he faced without troubling the scorers. Pakistan are 127/5 after 34 overs. Williams got his second wicket in the same over.
Akmal bowled for 33; Pakistan 127/4 after 33.3 overs
Umar Akmal bowled out by an outstanding delivery from Williams.
Misbah gets to his fifty in 91 balls
Captain Misbah is anchoring the Pakistan innings yet again playing sensibly with Umar Akmal.
50 partnership up between Misbah, Akmal
The pair scored 58 runs in 10.2 overs with a run-rate of 5.61 (Misbah-ul-Haq 26, Umar Akmal 30)
Hundred's up; Pakistan 102/3 after 28.3 overs
Pakistan has eventually got to 100 after a sluggish start. Umar Akmal playing well on run-a-ball 25 while Misbah is anchoring the innings yet again, not out on 42(84)
Akmal arrives; Pakistan 84/3 after 26 overs
Umar Akmal has joined skipper Misbah, who is not out at 35(78). Akmal is off to a good start batting on 12(14).
Haris out; Pakistan 58/3 after 20.1 overs Haris Sohail hit a long-hop straight to mid-wicket fielder off the bowling of Sikandar Raza.
Pakistan 58/2 after 20 overs
Misbah is batting at 21 (57) and Haris is not out at 27 (43).
'Chances slim to qualify for quarter-finals' According to an ICC poll, almost 72 per cent people rule out Pakistan's chances to qualify for the quarter-finals while 28 per cent are still hopeful.
Misbah, Haris to rescue
Captain Misbah and Haris Sohail are slowly rebuilding the innings after early loss of two quick wickets. Pakistan are 34 for 2 after 15.2 overs.
Openers out cheaply again Both Pakistan openers, Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad got out without bothering scorers too much. Jamshed was first to go who scored just 1 run. Shehzad followed him shortly without opening his account.
