da blaze casino： The script is similar every time: another Pakistani run feast, anotherimpressive Zimbabwe fightback in a hopeless task, but in the end anotherPakistani victory
John Ward27-Nov-2002The script is similar every time: another Pakistani run feast, anotherimpressive Zimbabwe fightback in a hopeless task, but in the end anotherPakistani victory. Only the details change a little, and in this match atHarare Sports Club Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by a comfortable 48 runs.The cloud and rain in Zimbabwe that curtailed the Sunday match appeared tohave departed, and it was warm and sunny in Harare for the third of fiveone-day internationals. This match was another World Cup ‘dress rehearsal’as far as security measures were concerned, and the ICC delegation onsecurity in Zimbabwe was present, resulting in what most Zimbabweansconsider to be an inordinate amount of red tape and inconvenience.On a good batting pitch which could take a little spin later on, Zimbabwewon the toss and put Pakistan in to bat. After conceding two massive totalsafter Pakistan batted in Bulawayo, it seemed a surprising move, but Zimbabwewere apparently wary of the pressure of trying to build a challenging targetagainst Wasim and Waqar with the new ball.Zimbabwe made four changes to their team: out went Stuart Matsikenyeri,Barney Rogers, Richie Sims and Waddington Mwayenga, to be replaced bybatsmen Dion Ebrahim and Mark Vermeulen and pace bowlers Gary Brent andDouglas Hondo, now fit again. The two bowling changes should strengthen theattack immeasurably if the two are able to shake off rustiness: Hondo forpenetration and Brent for accuracy.Pakistan made one changes, probably for rotational reasons only: MohammadZahid came in for Azhar Mahmood.Seemingly inevitably, Pakistan again compiled a massive total againstZimbabwe’s hapless bowlers, amassing 323 for three wickets, with SaleemElahi and Yousuf Youhana again registering centuries. Zimbabwe did not helptheir cause by missing several chances.Douglas Hondo and Gary Brent produced no miracles for Zimbabwe, both lookingsomewhat rusty, but as least there was not the wild and woolly bowling onshow in Bulawayo. The Zimbabwe ground fielding was sharp, with Craig Evansin particular distinguishing himself on the boundary, but Pakistan openersTaufeez Umar and Saleem Elahi still experienced little trouble in pushing onat five an over.There were a couple of hard chances missed, but the worst miss came whenSaleem, on 58, miscued Brent near mid-off but Nkala misjudged it so badlythat he never got a hand to it. The two batsmen scored neck and neck formost of their partnership, which was only broken at 154 when Taufeeq (68)was superbly caught by the diving Mark Vermeulen off Grant Flower near themidwicket boundary, in the 30th over.Then, with the inevitable Yousuf Youhana at the crease, the score increasedby leaps and bounds, but without the batsmen ever seeming in a hurry. Thispair added 92 before a fine stop and throw by Sean Ervine on the boundaryran out Saleem for a career-best 108, scored off 120 balls – his secondconsecutive century. Then, second ball, Shahid Afridi pulled Brent to becaught at deep midwicket without scoring. Pakistan were 246 for three.This was only a temporary glitch, as Kamran Akmal (24 not out) was in goodform and Youhana continued his rampage, hitting a six off the final ball ofthe innings to finish with exactly 100 runs off 68 balls, including 8 foursand 2 sixes. Zimbabwe finished more than ten minutes over time and werefortunate not to be fined – but match referee Clive Lloyd kept his kindgrandfatherly image intact.Zimbabwe changed their opening pair completely, Dion Ebrahim and MarkVermeulen going in this time, and it seemed to work, although Wasim andWaqar did not on this occasion appear as lethal as they did in Bulawayo.Runs came, too, with the aggressive Vermeulen making most of the running.Technically a little loose at times, he nevertheless has the ability to playreally classy drives, especially on the off side. 12 runs came off Waqar’sfourth over, an unthinkable occurrence at Queens, but the dream soon came toan end when Vermeulen called Ebrahim for a quick single and the latter wasrun out for seven; Zimbabwe 40 for one.Vermeulen tore into Mohammad Zahid’s first over, hitting 15 after beingcaught on the third-man boundary off a no-ball. He seemed attacked bynerves when on 49, though, taking eight balls before scampering a singlebefore reaching the landmark for the first time in international cricket off47 balls. Then he launched into another series of driven boundaries offWaqar and Zahid. At drinks, after 15 overs, Zimbabwe had 85 on the board,71 to Vermeulen.Alistair Campbell (6) then obliged Zahid with an easy wicket, flashingoutside off stump to give a slip catch. The introduction of spin at bothends slowed Vermeulen down, and he escaped an easy stumping chance the ballbefore he was trapped lbw for 79 by Shahid Afridi’s quicker ball; he faced81 deliveries.This brought the flower brothers together, a make-or-break time forZimbabwe. Steadily they built their foundation until the required run raterose to eight, and then they began their assault. Yet against such superbbowlers it was a daunting task, and they escaped a couple of close run-outattempts. Grant reached his fifty first, off 51 deliveries, then Andyfollowed off 69, but the required rate slowly climbed.Grant, down the pitch, was bowled by Saqlain for 54, making Zimbabwe 212 forfour after a stand of 104. Ervine holed out in the deep for 1, and AndyFlower did likewise for 63 in the same over for Saqlain. Now it was just adamage-limitation exercise: Evans (17) was bowled trying to hit Zahid out ofthe ground, and at the end Tatenda Taibu (18) and Nkala (6) were unbeaten.