Watch cricket video highlights of Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe 2024. 3rd One Day International between Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Venue of the match will be Bulawayo.
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Pakistan easily won by 99 runs in Bulawayo because to Kamran Ghulam’s first ODI century and a brilliant bowling display. Following a similar triumph in Australia earlier this month, Pakistan’s victory seals the series 2-1 and marks their second straight comeback ODI series victory. After the openers got off to a solid start and Abdullah Shafique scored his sixth half-century, Pakistan amassed 303. Zimbabwe’s late carelessness allowed Pakistan to steal 69 from the last five overs.
Craig Ervine’s half-century was the only significant opposition in response, and as no one else was able to advance, Pakistan kept fortifying their position until the goal was insurmountable, concluding the innings in 40.1 overs. Even though rain was predicted for today, when Pakistan chose to bat after winning the toss, the sky remained clear. Saim Ayub and Shafique got Pakistan off to a fast start, reaching the 50-partnership in 11 overs, even if they didn’t quite move at the blazing speed they had established on Tuesday.
Shortly after misfiring his signature shot, however, Ayub picked up Faisal Akram over deep backward square leg and sent him straight to Clive Madande on the boundary, where he dropped. Early on, Ghulam showed uncertainty by almost chipping one back to Sean Williams after his seventh ball. However, he appeared to be freed up when Ghulam hammered one over deep midwicket for six and Williams drew one down the next over. The 100 came up in 22 overs, and he and Shafique helped Pakistan go along at a steady, albeit unimpressive, pace.
Shortly after reaching his half-century, however, Sikandar Raza broke that stand, catching Shafique in front when he misplayed his sweep. The biggest partnership of the innings was formed by Rizwan and Ghulam, but the expected increase in the scoring rate did not materialize even after batting circumstances leveled out. Ghulam had to push through the gears after Rizwan, in particular, coasted at a strike rate of just over 50 off his first 25 balls. After taking 27 off his two overs, he forced Brian Bennett to leave the attack because he liked him.
Before Raza gave his team the lead, Zimbabwe defeated the visitors once again with Williams and Akram. After a mistake, Rizwan had lofted him for six over long-on, and Dion Myers had an easy catch when he attempted it again off the subsequent delivery. By this point, Ghulam was cruising at three figures. Before Raza’s long hop was knocked away to midwicket to bring up the ton, Akram was dismissed for consecutive boundaries. In an effort to pin Zimbabwe back, Richard Ngarava dismissed Ghulam immediately when they threatened to accelerate.
The wheels ultimately fell off for Zimbabwe in the 46th over. Pakistan unexpectedly targeted 300 after 23 runs came off the Akram over, which featured six wides, a no-ball, two fours, and a six. As Pakistan barely passed 300, they carried all the momentum into the interval, even bringing out Blessing Muzarabani, who was dismissed for 24 in his last two overs. Pakistan scored twice in Ayub’s over, although they had to wait until the third over to do so.
Myers and Joylord Gumbie both holed out to try to maintain the run pace, and Zimbabwe continued to do so despite wickets falling often. Tadiwanashe Marumani was unfortunate to be ruled out leg before off Abrar Ahmed with the ball probably going down leg, although he was aggressive for the whole of his tenure. Following the conclusion of the first powerplay, Sean Williams momentarily took up the run-scoring role, attacking Agha Salman and Abrar. Ervine then slapped Haris Rauf for two boundaries in what turned out to be a dangerous partnership for Pakistan.
However, it ended much too soon for them to exert any significant pressure, as is the case with many Zimbabwean partnerships. Haris’s increased pace as he cut on was enough to finish Williams, and it would initiate a Zimbabwean slump. Although wickets were starting to fall in groups on the pitch, Pakistan’s biggest fear came from abruptly convergent clouds before the 20th over had been bowled. Zimbabwe continued to score runs at a rate of nearly every over, and Ervine reached his half-century with a poor sweep off Faisal Akram. But for him, the end was near.
Tayyab Tahir’s easy chance at midwicket gave him a reprieve, but Aamer Jamal refused to give up and forced him to drag on a short delivery later in the over. He supported it by getting rid of Raza in his next over, and Zimbabwe appeared to be suffering a severe loss. In an intriguing cameo that kept the Bulawayo supporters interested, Bennett went on the spinners with great successive, sparing them blushes considerably. However, it wouldn’t continue, as any realistic expectations the hosts had were dashed when he miscued off Abrar Ahmed after a 37 off 27 balls.
For a while, Clive Madande and Ngarava persevered, making sure Zimbabwe reached 200 and limited the loss to two runs. Faisal Akram and Rauf, however, removed the final two balls off successive balls either side of the 40th over to formally declare victory, ensuring that Pakistan would not be denied a decisive victory.
