Zimbabwe Select take series 4-2 with win over Pakistan Shaheens in sixth one-day

Craig Ervine’s century helped Zimbabwe Select win the sixth one-day against Pakistan Shaheens by 32 runs and clinch the series by 4-2.

While chasing a mammoth target of 386 runs, Shaheen suffered early blows as they lost opener, Imran Butt (6), and in-form batter, Omair Bin Yousuf (4), inside five overs. Both batters were dismissed by experienced pacer, Blessing Muzarabani.

The other opener, Haseebullah, had a positive start to his inning, hitting seven boundaries, before he was removed for 35 by Tanaka Chivanga.

With Shaheens reeling at 50-3 inside 10 overs, Rohail Nazir and skipper Kamran Ghulam formed a crucial 108-run partnership, to get their chase back on track.

Ghulam played an aggressive 56-run knock from 47 balls, which included six fours and a maximum. Luke Jongwe provided much needed breakthrough for Zimbabwe, as Ghulam was caught by Muzarabani.

Rohail found an able ally in Mubasir Khan, who played his shots from the get go. The all-rounder completed his fifty in just 38 balls, to keep the required run-rate in check.

The wicketkeeper-batter continued his gritty knock and was inching towards his century, before he was dismissed by Sean Willaims for 88. Rohail smashed six fours and three sixes during his 91-ball stay at the crease.

Shaheen suffered another setback in the very next over, as Qasim Akram was caught behind (1) on the bowling of Sikandar Raza.

Despite multiple blows, Mubasir didn’t slow down and continued to accelerate. Aamer Jamal played a brief cameo of 19 runs from 13 balls, to take Pakistan close to the target.

However, Raza broke the 45-run stand, as he dismissed Jamal and Mehran Mumtaz on the last two balls of his 10-over spell, thus finishing with figures of 3/66.

Mubasir kept fighting till the end as he brought up his blistering century in just 67 balls. However, his 115-run knock, which included six fours and eight sixes, wasn’t enough for Shaheens to level the series, as they were bowled out for 353 runs.

Earlier, after winning the toss, Shaheens chose to field first and got an early breakthrough in the first over when Mohammad Ali dismissed opener Joylord Gumbie with a simple catch taken by the skipper.

However, Shaheens were not prepared for what was about to follow as Ervine and Innocent Kaia formed a magnificent partnership of 187 runs for the second wicket. The two batters troubled Shaheens’ bowling attack, leaving the bowlers perplexed.

Ervine dominated the innings, smashing 195 runs off 148 balls, which included 22 boundaries and six sixes. Even Kaia’s dismissal in the 28th over, after a solid partnership with Ervine, did not affect Ervine’s form. Kaia scored 92 runs off 79 deliveries, featuring 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Towards the end, Ervine got supper from Ryan Burl, who played a brief but impactful innings of 31 runs from 18 balls, to bolster the hosts’ total to 385/7. Ervine’s knock came courtesy of a run-out as he tried to take the strike in the final over, to complete his century.

During the Zimbabwe innings, Shaheens were also penalized for ball tampering by umpire, Iknow Chaabi. The hosts were awarded five runs for the offence by Shaheens.

Mohammad Ali and Jamal managed to take two wickets each. However, Shahnawaz Dahani endured a difficult day, conceding 105 runs in his allotted 10 overs.