“We needed a partnership but unfortunately 50 and 30-run partnerships won’t get you over the line”

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Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman Brendan Taylor has announced that “it is extremely difficult to comprehend this loss” to Pakistan.

Taylor was the only Zimbabwe batsman to score a half-century in his side’s 20-run loss to Pakistan.

“We certainly did target this match and we felt that half the job was done particularly well by restricting them to 235,” he said. “But they came out in the first 15 overs and made it pretty difficult for us (to score runs).

“We needed a partnership but unfortunately 50 and 30-run partnerships won’t get you over the line. It is extremely difficult to comprehend this loss.”

Taylor also noted that he and all-rounder Sean Williams should shoulder much of the blame since they gave their wickets away after getting settled at the crease.

“We both felt like we were cruising nicely but again we found ways to get out at crucial periods — some soft dismissals as well,” Taylor said. “That’s been a major downfall for us in the last four games, crucial periods when batters have needed to get through those initial periods, then finding ways to get out. It’s not helping the team’s cause.”

However, Taylor still believes that Zimbabwe can qualify for the quarter-finals, even though they have to play Ireland and India in their last two pool matches.

“It’s definitely a little more added pressure — we feel we are 80 per cent there,” he said. “We think if we can close that gap a little bit more I think we are heading in the right direction for a good win against Ireland.

“If we can do that, India have been on the road a long time, but we saw what happened at Eden Park the other day (when New Zealand beat Australia).

“If we can play some fantastic cricket then there is no reason we can’t have that self-belief that we can win.”