A promising start turned into a dismal collapse as Zimbabwe surrendered to Pakistan by 57 runs in the opening T20I at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday.
Having done well to restrict Pakistan to 165/4 in their alloted overs the Chevrons’ batting deficiencies could not do justice to their cause falling from a healthy 87/3 at half way stage to 108 all out after 15.3 overs.
Pakistan scored through Tayyab Tahir 39 (25) not out, wicket keeper Usman Khan 39 (30) as well as Irfan Khan (27) and Saim Ayub (24).
After losing opener Brian Bennett (6) and Dion Myers (6) in the opening three overs, Tadiwanashe Marumani (33) and captain Sikandar Raza perfectly reconstructed the innings until the unfortunate runout of the former in the ninth over.
Zimbabwe had raced to 77 when a limping Raza called for two runs. Even after the unfortunate runout on an inform Marumani, Zimbabwe still sat pretty on 77/3 after 8.2 overs.
However, that proved to be the turning point of the match as Zimbabwe went on to lose wickets in cluster. Ryan Burl (3), Clive Madande (5) and top scorer Raza (39) all went out before Zimbabwe reached 100 while Wellington Masakadza (5) and Richard Ngarava, golden duck were dismissed in successive deliveries as Zimbabwe capitulated to 102/8 after 14 overs.
It then took Pakistan nine balls to wipe off Zimbabwe’s remaining two wickets, Blessing Muzarabani, golden duck and Trevor Gwandu, duck being the victims, hosts being bundled out for 108 in 15.3 overs.
Zimbabwe assistant and batting coach Dion Ebrahim was disappointed that the failed to capitalise on their batting advantage.
“We are disappointed we are hurting over the fact that we lost a fixture that we truly believed we were capable of winning especially at the half way,” said Ebrahim.
“We obviously played Pakistan in the ODIs and we know the challenges that they can to throw at us. The batting unit we discussed and chatted at length from game plan strategies, style of play and how to approach the situations and the trend that we have seen over the last four games now including the ODI games is that we get ourselves a very good tactical foundation.”
The former Zimbabwe international singled out left-hander Marumani for praise.
“Marumani is batting extremely well and at key moments we keep losing wickets whether it be by poor decision making or just a bit of bad luck. We saw that again today,” said Ebrahim.
“In the T20I the momentum is so critical and those little moments that we have lost momentum and the bowling unit that Pakistan has where they bowl a number of spinners once you lose momentum to regain it requires risky taking and just our accuracy of which risky to take to win we were a little bit off today so those are the fast track learnings that we really need to have as a team.”
Pakistan bowler Sufiyan Muqeem took three wickets for 20 runs in 3.3 overs, Abrar Ahmed had three for 28 from four overs while Haris Rauf picked two.
Zimbabwe have only today to breathe and come up with a, winning stragegy and save the series as the second match is scheduled for tomorrow.
