Pakistan eye 2-0 Twenty20 series triumph today

KARACHI: Amidst all the hype and hoopla about the return of international cricket to the country, Pakistan are planning to keep their eyes on the ball.
Now that the opening game of the two-match Twenty20 International series has already been played, the Pakistani players will be focussing on winning the contest in an emphatic manner.
Their five-wicket win has given Pakistan an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series but the hosts will be looking for a more convincing victory in the second and final T20 game to be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday (today).
Pakistan began their first home series in more than six years on a victorious note but they must be fully aware that their overall performance during Friday night’s game was far from convincing.
After skipper Shahid Afridi lost the toss, Pakistan leaked away too many easy runs to allow Zimbabwe to post a challenging total of 172. It could have been a trickier chase for the hosts but openers — Mukhtar Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad —made the run-chase easier with a stand of 142 in less than 14 overs.
At that moment it seemed Pakistan will just cruise to a comfortable victory but instead the game went into the final over. After losing Ahmed Shehzad for 55, Pakistan struggled to reach the victory target and in the process lost four more wickets.
Pakistan will need a more clinical show to make sure that there are no unpleasant surprises on Sunday. They have already suffered embarrassment at the hands of Bangladesh and cannot afford any hiccups against the Zimbabweans.
Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, hoped that his players will give their best in the second and final T20 game.
“It was great to see our players rising to the occasion as international cricket returned to Pakistan,” Afridi said. “I am confident that my boys will do even better in tomorrow’s match,” he added.
Pakistan’s batting will not be Afridi’s only concern ahead of tonight’s game.
The hosts didn’t bowl too well especially in the opening overs allowing Zimbabwe to get off to a solid start. The fielding, too, was far from impressive and even the reliable Sarfraz Ahmed squandered a couple of chances behind the stumps.
The Zimbabweans, meanwhile, will be looking to improve their performance in a bid to draw the series. It’s an important game for them as the T20 series will be followed by a three-match One-day International contest and the tourists will like to gain momentum ahead of it.
Just like Friday’s historic game, Sunday’s match is likely to attract a packed crowd as all tickets have been sold out.