Ahmed Shehzad hit an unbeaten 98 as Pakistan comfortably beat Zimbabwe.Pakistan 179-1 (Shehzad 98no) beat
Zimbabwe 160-6 (H Masakadza 41) by 19 runs
Second Twenty20 International, Harare
Scorecard
A career-best 98 not out from Ahmed Shehzad set up Pakistan’s 19-run over Zimbabwe in the second and final T20 International at Harare Sports Club. They therefore wrap up the series 2-0, with the two sides now set to contest three ODIs in Harare, the first of which is on Tuesday.
Shehzad dominated the Pakistan innings of 179 for one, although Nasir Jamshed did the bulk of the early scoring. He made 23 off 17 balls but was caught off Shingi Masakadza in the sixth over to give the home side what would be their first and only success with the ball.
Shehzad made 70 in the first match on Friday, but batted throughout the innings today, ending just two short of what would have been his maiden century. He added an unbroken 143 in 86 balls with his captain Mohammad Hafeez for the second-wicket and hit six maximums. Hafeez ended on 54 off 40 balls, having hit three fours and two sixes.
Most of the Zimbabwe bowlers came in for significant punishment, with the recalled Tinashe Panyangara arguably the pick, conceding only 29 runs from his four overs. He was the only change to Zimbabwe’s side from yesterday, playing in place of Tendai Chatara, while Pakistan made two changes, resting Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Irfan and picking Zulfiqar Babar and Asad Ali.
Zimbabwe’s run chase followed a similar pattern to yesterday’s. Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza got them off to a solid start with an opening stand of 50 in 44 balls. However, they again struggled to keep up with the required run rate and, when Masakadza fell to Hafeez in the 14th over for a well-made 41 off 32 balls, the game was probably over.
Sean Williams and Elton Chigumbura did their best. The former hit 25 off 16 balls before being stumped off Babar, while Chigumbura finished on 35 off 19 balls and clubbed a brace of sixes. Malcolm Waller also made a sparky 20 off 14 balls, but it wasn’t to be enough and Zimbabwe ended on 160 for six.
Pakistan’s bowling attack was led by their spinners. Hafeez picked up three for 30, while Babar took two for 21 from his four overs.
© Cricket World 2013
