Saim excited to have taken full use of wicket

ISLAMABAD: Saim Ayub attributed his 51-ball hundred to his persistent approach on a wicket that was comparatively easier to the one where Pakistan lost the opening One-Dayer against Zimbabwe.

On Tuesday however, Pakistan were seen dictating terms right from the start cantering to an easy ten-wicket win to square the series 1-1. Saim hit a powerful hundred, the third fastest for Pakistan as the tourists raced to the target in the 20th over.

“All I planned to play was my neutral game in which I succeeded. The wicket for the second One-Dayer was comparatively easier as the ball was coming on to the wicket a bit better, unlike the first One-Dyer where the ball did not come on the bat. I tried to play my neutral game in which I succeeded,” Saim, who struck his maiden ODI hundred, said.

He was all the more excited on the whole team’s performance. “We came back strongly in the series and that was the main thing. It was a true all-round performance.” Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan also praised Saim’s innings, saying the talent he possesses was no longer a secret.

“He played a quality knock and made the job easier for Pakistan. It was however the bowling of Abrar Ahmed (4-33) and Salman Ali Agha (3-26) that helped Pakistan chase a low total.” Pakistan took nine Zimbabwe wickets through spinners with Salman breaking the backbone of top-order. Abrar removed the lower order to bowl out the host nation for just 145 in 33rd over.

“It was a thumping win but that is past as we now are totally focused on the next game on Thursday. We are more interested to repeat today’s performance in the third One-Dayer to take the series 2-1,” Rizwan said.

Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe captain was upset at making the wrong decision of electing to bat first. “I think we should have bowled first on a wicket that became easier later in the day. There was something for the bowlers earlier in the wicket but as the match progressed wicket slowed down making it easier for the batsmen to adjust.”

He was also unhappy with the batsmen for not applying properly to play the full quota of overs. “Our batsmen including myself could not come up to the mark, failing to play the full quota. Some of the batsmen played reckless shots that turned out to be the decisive factor.”

Ervine defended his decision to introduce spinners late. “Wicket had gone too slow and that was the reason we did not open up with the spinners. I think fast bowlers could have fetched us a few wickets but that was not possible because of the nature of the wicket which became easier for the batsmen as the match progressed.”