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Eddie Chikamhi Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE cricket supporters are a passionate lot who have stood by their team in good and bad times. But, yesterday, the fans felt betrayed by their team following a terrible batting failure that virtually handed the three-match QMobile One Day International series to Pakistan on a silver platter.

Pakistan were untroubled as they romped to a seven-wicket win to take the series 2-1, much to the disappointment of the home crowd who had hoped for an exciting contest in this decisive game which came on the back of a commendable show by the hosts in last Saturday’s victory which left the teams level.

The Chevrons were faced with a rare chance of winning the series yesterday but they destroyed the mood at the stadium with a disappointing performance after they were asked to bat first.

Zimbabwe broke the hearts of their fans after they were bowled out for 161 in 38.5 overs.

This was despite a gutsy start by openers Chamu Chibhabha (48) and Richmond Mutumbami, who scored a career best 67, in an a promising opening stand which appeared to point to a better day in the office for the Zimbabweans.

The pair put on 89 runs for the first wicket partnership but Zimbabwe’s problems playing spin returned to haunt them in this match as off-spinner Bilal Asif claimed his first five-wicket haul in only his second ODI while Imad Wasim took three.

Asif was named man of the match for his impressive figures of 5-25 off his allotted 10 overs to give the tourists the advantage before Shoaib Malik (34) and Asad Shafiq (38) took Pakistan home comfortably.

It was disappointing for the Zimbabweans.

It’s a fact that their fans are used to the misery of losing games, especially against top teams, but yesterday the emotions got the better of them as they felt their players didn’t commit themselves enough with the bat after Mutumbami and Chibhabha had given them the head start.

But trouble began when Chibhabha was deceived by a slower delivery and returned a catch to Asif, who made no mistake for the breakthrough which came after more than an hour of toil.

The gamble to rest out of sorts batsman Hamilton Masakadza seemed to pay off, nonetheless as Mutumbami remained resolute. But then Zimbabwe’s innings never got going following the departure of Chibhabha.

Brian Chari (4) was trapped lbw by Wasim to fuel a middle order collapse as Asif cleaned out the middle order taking the important wickets of Sean Williams (5), Elton Chigumbura (0), Sikandar Raza Butt (2) and Tino Mutombodzi (4).

By the time Zimbabwe faced the 31st over, they were already six wickets down, which did not quite resonate with their good start that had them at 89-1 in 21 overs.

The fans were stunned.

There was no singing at the Castle Corner, which is usually the heartbeat of Zimbabwe’s support.

It was always going to be difficult for Zimbabwe to defend such a low score.

The usually electric atmosphere at the Castle Corner, where they draw much of their inspiration, was replaced with total silence when Pakistan began the chase.

The supporters instead traded their sympathy for occasional insults and swearing at the players.

They knew the miracle would not happen and had given up hope before Pakistan had faced their first ball.

Openers Ahmed Shehzad (32) and man of the match Asif (38) were in no hurry when they set out for the tourists.

They nearly suffered an early setback when Asif was dropped in the slips by John Nyumbu.

Asif survived again in the second over when he chipped Luke Jongwe’s delivery, but Williams reacted slowly.

The opening pair put on 58 runs on the board before Nyumbu made the breakthrough for Zimbabwe, thanks to a stunning catch by Mutombodzi at long-on boundary.

Williams and Panyangara also got a wicket each, but Pakistan were not troubled at all and coasted home with 16 overs to spare.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe Innings

C Chibhabha c&b Asif 48

R Mutumbami c S. Ahmed b Irfan 67

B Chari lbw b Wasim 4

S Williams c&b Asif 5

E Chigumbura b Asif 0

S Raza b Asif 2

T Mutombodzi b Asif 4

M Waller c Hafeez b Wasim 8

L Jongwe not out 16

T Panyangara lbw b Wasim 0

J Nyumbu c Rizwan b Malik 4

Extras (w-3) 3

Total (all out, 38.5 overs) 161

Fall of wickets: 1-89 C Chibhabha,2-100 B Chari,3-111 S Williams,4-111 E Chigumbura,5-121 S Raza,6-127 T Mutombodzi,7-133 R Mutumbami,8-144 M Waller,9-144 T Panyangara,10-161 J Nyumbu

Bowling

M Irfan 8 – 0 – 43 – 1(w-1)

A Yamin 6 – 0 – 29 – 0

W Riaz 6 – 0 – 24 – 0(w-1)

I Wasim 8 – 1 – 36 – 3(w-1)

B Asif 10 – 1 – 25 – 5

S Malik 0.5 – 0 – 4 – 1

Pakistan Innings

A Shehzad st Chari b Williams 32

B Asif c Mutombodzi b Nyumbu 38

M Hafeez c Chari b Panyangara 13

A Shafiq not out 38

S Malik not out 34

Extras (lb-2 w-5) 7

Total (for 3 wickets, 34 overs) 162

Fall of wickets: 1-58 B Asif,2-74 M Hafeez,3-104 A Shehzad

Did not bat: S Ahmed, M Rizwan, I Wasim, A Yamin, W Riaz, M Irfan

Bowling

T Panyangara 7 – 0 – 22 – 1(w-2)

L Jongwe 7 – 0 – 42 – 0

S Williams 10 – 1 – 29 – 1(w-1)

J Nyumbu 4 – 0 – 33 – 1(w-2)

T Mutombodzi 3 – 0 – 21 – 0

M Waller 2 – 0 – 11 – 0

S Raza 1 – 0 – 2 – 0

Referees

Umpire: Jeremiah Matibiri

Umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge

TV umpire: Russell Tiffin

Match referee: David Jukes

Result: Pakistan won by 7 wickets