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Brandon Moyo, [email protected]

A NINE-YEAR drought was brought to an end as Zimbabwe finally managed to beat Pakistan in a one-day match during the first One Day International (ODI) at Queens Sports Club yesterday.

A brilliant bowling display in yesterday’s game saw Zimbabwe topple Pakistan by 80 runs (D/L method) in a game that was brought to a premature end by rain as the hosts got off the three-match series on a high note.

The Chevrons had last beaten Pakistan in ODIs in Harare in 2015. To make yesterday’s win even more sweet, it was Zimbabwe’s first ODI win of the year having last registered victory in the longer version during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in July last year.

Action from the Chevrons vs Pakistan match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday

Their last win in 50-over cricket was against Oman at Queens Sports Club. Since then, the Chevrons lost three-match series against Ireland and Sri Lanka by identical 2-0 scores.

In yesterday’s game, the Chevrons were asked to bat first and were bowled out for a paltry 205 runs in 40,2 overs. However, the score proved too much for Pakistan who, at the time of the rain disruption, were on 60/6 after 21 overs.

The Chevrons had a good start to their batting innings with the opening duo of Tadiwanashe Marumani and Joylord Gumbie putting up a 40-run stand for the first wicket before the latter was run out on 15 runs off 17 deliveries.

An unlikely hero emerged in Zimbabwe’s batting innings as fast bowler Richard Ngarava finished as the Chevrons’ leading run getter.

Ngarava, coming in to bat at number 10 top scored with a brilliant 48 runs off 52 balls. It is now his highest score in ODIs, surpassing his previous best of 35.

Ngarava had the support of Sikandar Raza who scored 39 runs from 56 deliveries while Marumani fell for 29 runs after facing 41 balls.

Sean Williams chipped in with 23 runs from 17 deliveries while debutant Brian Bennett made 20 runs from as many deliveries.

Faisal Akram and Salman Agha were the pick of the Pakistani bowlers with three wickets apiece. Akram finished with figures of 3/24 in eight overs while Agha registered figures of 3/42 in nine overs.

Zimbabwe’s defence got off to the best possible start as premier fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani struck early.
The lanky fast bowler dismissed Pakistan’s openers inside five overs. He had both Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique caught behind for 11 and one run respectively.

Raza would go on to complete his all round performance as he also took two wickets for just seven runs in three overs. Williams also had another brilliant spell, finishing with figures of 2/12 in six overs.

Pakistan had the going tough with the bat with their top scorer being the skipper Mohammad Rizwan on an unbeaten 19 runs from 43 balls. Kumran Ghulam made 17 runs from 18 deliveries.

For his all round performance, Raza was named Player of the Match. The all rounder said that he was pleased with how things went especially with the ball as they managed to defend what was a sup-par score.

Raza said their target with the bat was to score at least 250 runs and gave credit to the bowlers for stepping up.

“Like most people, I thought that was a below par score. Two hundred and fifty on that wicket would have been a really good score because it was turning. Playing spin on that wicket was a bit difficult and as you saw, we ended up taking four wickets between ourselves (and Sean Williams) in a short space of seven or eight wickets.

“So 250 would have been a good total but credit goes to the three fast bowlers for the way they started the innings. They did not let them get away with the game and that was very crucial for us to win the game,” said Raza.

All the proceeds from yesterday’s encounter were donated to KidzCan Zimbabwe, an organisation doing philanthropic work towards increasing the survival rate of children with cancer in Zimbabwe.

Queens Sports Club was painted orange with fans, players and officials all having a touch of orange in their regalia in support of children with cancer.

With the first game done and dusted, focus now shifts to the second match scheduled for tomorrow at the same venue.
There will be all to play for in tomorrow’s encounter as Zimbabwe look to seal the series while Pakistan hope to save it and make it level with one game left. The match starts at 09.30am. – @brandon_malvin