Pakistan celebrate after whitewashing Zimbabwe 2-0
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan once again defended a score of 136 as they beat Zimbabwe by 15 runs to complete their 2-0 series whitewash.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi chose to bat again, but was faced with the same dilemma as he was in the first Twenty20 International as none of the batsmen, with the exception of Umar Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood, failed to have a major impact with the bat.
Maqsood managed to make 26 off 25 balls, which included three boundaries, while Akmal smashed an unbeaten 38 off 28 deliveries, which included two boundaries and a six, right towards the end of the innings to guide Pakistan to 136/6 off their 20 overs.
Akmal was named Man of the Match for his unbeaten knock of 38
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Tinashe Panyangara and Luke Jongwe picked up two wickets apiece, while Graeme Cremer and Prosper Utseya chipped in with one wicket each.
Chasing 137 to win, Zimbabwe were presented with a golden opportunity to end the series as a 1-1 draw, but failed to do so as they crumbled right from the get-go.
Had it not been for Sean Williams’ unbeaten 40, which came off 36 balls and included four boundaries, and Sikandar Raza’s 36, which came off 36 deliveries and included one boundary, Zimbabwe’s margin of defeat would have been a lot larger.
Mohammad Irfan and Imran Khan snapped up two wickets apiece, while Sohail Tanvir and Imad Wasim claimed one wicket each.
Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura was disappointed to have lost again, and said: “I just need to repeat what I said last game. We were disappointing again with the bat, but the bowlers were good. We need to make sure we up our game for the ODI series.”
Afridi was relieved to have escaped with a win again, and said: “I must say again we missed the opportunity. I still believe with our batsmen, 160-170 is possible on any track. Our bowlers were good again. Body language is very important and whatever the coach has said, the boys have delivered. Our ODI team too is capable of beating any team.”
Akmal was named Man of the Match.