Zimbabwe v Pakistan | 3rd T20I | Harare | 25th April 2021 | Pakistan innings

[MenInG]

Zimbabwe pose a strenuous challenge for Pakistan to overcome and win the series as an exciting series finale awaits on Sunday, 25 April.

Overview:

Zimbabwe vs Pakistan
Harare Sports Club
Sunday, 25 April, 09:00AM GMT; 11:00AM local

Pakistan’s reliance on its top-order to do the bulk of the scoring has left them exposed to middle-order implosions that failed to take the team over the line with Mohammad Hafeez, Asif Ali, and Faheem Ashraf finding it difficult to regain form.

Zimbabwe rectified basics coming into the second game from the first defeat. An improved fielding and bowling performance while maximizing on opportunities sourced by Pakistan’s mistake on the field yielded an ideal result for them.

Remember the last time:

Zimbabwe pulled off their first-ever win over Pakistan in 16 attempts by defending a below-par total of 118. The bowlers rose to the occasion in a historic fightback that bundled out Pakistan for 99 with Babar Azam as the highest run-scorer with 41 which came in 45 balls.

Luke Jongwe starred with the ball to help Zimbabwe level the series with his impressive returns of 4/18.

What they said:

Babar Azam (Pakistan Captain): “The batting needs to step up. The T20 World Cup is coming and we need to resolve these issues. Hopefully, we make a comeback in the next game and in all the future T20s we will look to play with our best combination.”

Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe Captain): “As a batting unit, we need to fire a little more in the powerplay. We feel they're a stronger bowling unit than a batting unit, and if we get 140-150, we can challenge them."

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[90MPH]

I hope there is a better pitch this time.

But regardless Pak still played poor brainless cricket last game, you can’t just look for big shots if it’s not possible on such a wicket - especially only on the leg side, just look for singles and doubles.

Yeah it’s boring for a 20/20 but it’s not in their hands if the conditions don’t allow big hits.

 

[OMB]

Pakistan have won the toss and will bat first

 

[OMB]

All the best to Pakistan for the series decider

 

[imshally81]

3 changes for Pakistan

Sarfaraz, Sharjeel & Hasan Ali in

 

[Rafa]

Pakistan won the toss and opt to bat.

 

[Ahmed216]

Another tight contest

 

[Shariq7]

I'm glad, it's the mighty Zim after all.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat in the final T20I of the 3-match series against Zimbabwe

 

[Omer2002]

Sarfraz in a 2020 is beyond me...he is an accumilator not a power hitter..sharjeel in i wonder where he is going to bat..with rizzy n babz opening it has messed everybodys posutions

 

[b.lesner]

If chief selector said Muhammad wasim jr is backup of Fahim Ashraf why isn't he playing against Zimbabwe???
Will he debut in WC if Fahim gets injured?

 

[Ahmed216]

Arshad did not deserve to be dropped he bowled well. He has far better control than Rauf and Hasnain

 

[Saj]

The batting order will be interesting today - where will Fakhar, Sharjeel, Babar, Sarfaraz and Rizwan bat.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sarfaraz Ahmed, Hassan Ali and Sharjeel Khan are in the side, out go Danish Aziz, Asif Ali and Arshad Iqbal <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZIMvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZIMvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yosvt7BdzW">pic.twitter.com/Yosvt7BdzW</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1386238311707127811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[saeedhk]

Good team because Asif Buttler is not included!

 

[Rafa]

Pakistan will miss the services of Asif Ali today.

 

[imshally81]

Arshad did not deserve to be dropped he bowled well. He has far better control than Rauf and Hasnain

Yes feel for him... Faheem should be dropped..

 

[Asif321]

Lol fakhar at 6 .management in panic

 

[criclover2311]

I'd play Arshad over Hasnain, since he uses the pitch well, would be better on this two paced pitch, but its alright decision not to burden a freshie with pressure match, no issues here.

Fakhar would be good option to try at 6, I'd even play him at 5 but Saifi is here, If Fakhar fails at 6, another option is to have Hafeez at six and Fakhar at 4 since Fakhar can play according to situation and can hit spinners and is pressure player.

If Sharjeel performs, I'd have Babar Sharjeel opening Riz at 3, Babar's game depends on pp overs since he naturally finds gap with his shots, while Riz is innovative player who can hit out of park so does not depends on PP. Also Riz takes time to start wasting PP which is not case with Babar

 

[Shazzam]

Looks like Sarfraz will get to do captaincy. So good choice.

 

[Muhammad]

Pakistan will miss the services of Asif Ali today.

I think you mean Zimbabwe will?

 

[PakPremi]

Although Sarfraz does not suit the format but he can atleast get a run a ball, which is more than Asif Ali and Danish provided. He is not long term solution though, just for this game.

 

[criclover2311]

Fakhar is unlikely to come at six, depends purely on situation, he'll be send at 5 ahead of Sarfaraz say 5 odd overs are left, In case of collapse only will we see Sarfaraz come ahead of Fakhar. Depends purely on scorecad, if we'e say 50-4, management will send Sarfaraz, if we've 120-4, Fakhar will come ahead of him, so I say Bingo, good move by management.

 

[Omer2002]

Sharjeel looks like a tail.ender we are doomed with our talent

 

[Ahmed216]

Blessing mcgrath angling the ball away from sharjeel

 

[AAli98]

Sarfraz ?? Desperate times... misbah or younis would of been a preferred option..

 

[speed_thrills]

4

What a shot by Sharjeel.

 

[Baigel]

It’s obvious from the selection that the team management is under pressure

I love it!

 

[90MPH]

Although Sarfraz does not suit the format but he can atleast get a run a ball, which is more than Asif Ali and Danish provided. He is not long term solution though, just for this game.

Exactly, he was the type of batsman we needed to chase that score the other day, not stupid leg side slogging that wasn’t possible on such a wicket

 

[imshally81]

Brave decision to open with Sharjeel

 

[Omer2002]

Electric start i must say on a new wicket looks flatter than others...

 

[Coolcapri]

Sarfraz is kind of player required on these pitches.

 

[Coolcapri]

Golden opportunity for Sharjeel, Pak need to keep batting order flexible, If shajeel fall than fakhar should come and if Rizwan falls then Babar.

 

[Shazzam]

Sharjeel's only shot is leg side slog. Boring batsmen to watch.

 

[imshally81]

44444

 

[imshally81]

Back to back boundaries

 

[criclover2311]

Golden opportunity for Sharjeel, Pak need to keep batting order flexible, If shajeel fall than fakhar should come and if Rizwan falls then Babar.

Excellent thinking.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Sharjeel Khan has been brought in to accelerate in the innings and so far he's batting like Rizwan.

Also I can't believe they have brought in Sarfaraz Ahmed rather than Nawaz or Haider.

 

[imshally81]

13 runs in last over

 

[Markhor]

Surely FZ won't bat at 6 ?

 

[TeymurBlake]

Pakistan needs Sharjeel to fire specially with Fakhar Zaman in the middle order. He needs to accelerate and put Pakistan into a good position.

 

[Coolcapri]

FZ should come one down.

 

[Coolcapri]

Pak will hammer Zim today,

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Yes feel for him... Faheem should be dropped..

Faheem is as worst as asif

 

[90MPH]

Looks like a much better wicket - at least a much better new ball wicket.

 

[Coolcapri]

Pitch looks a bit better.

 

[imshally81]

Strike rotation is excellent so far..

 

[Coolcapri]

Got a good start now need to accelerate and keep attacking, target 180 atleast.

 

[Zeshan547]

Not the worst team i must say, just swap riz and babar positions because booby is dependent on PP overs, and after this series just swap sarfi with Imad, and this is the best batting combo we can have for WC, the middle over should be flexible and situation dependant and match up dependant.

 

[imshally81]

Out
Sharjeel gone

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Only mediciocre and worst management will audacity to change position of there best batsman

 

[TeymurBlake]

Well then. Thanks for coming Sharjeel.

 

[Zeshan547]

not the worst considering previous matches and conditions.

 

[Coolcapri]

Bad shot by sharjeel...... out

 

[Omer2002]

18 off 14 is this our level ....

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Aag twadi mathi ho ge sharjeel fans abhi or thandi hoge

 

[90MPH]

That was there to hit - he just chipped it when he needed to full swing smash it.

Static footwork probably cost him

 

[Coolcapri]

why he want to drag everything to leg side, low full toss just need to time it through cover......

 

[Shazzam]

Sharjeel gave them a start well played.

 

[Devadwal]

Saviour of Pakistan cricket gone

 

[Saj]

Lousy shot by Sharjeel.

No need for it.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Brave decision to open with Sharjeel

Only talentless nation can do this

 

[Coolcapri]

Babar will punish Zim for the defeat today.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Mr fitness isn’t everything gone

 

[Omer2002]

This allrounder is better than faheem ...

 

[MHN1293]

Out to a fulltoss

 

[mrtaim3]

What a lose shot! This guy cant even move his feet now. Only playing with his wrists.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Babar coming in at No.3 will change the batting dynamic as Sharjeel was looking good. Fakhar Zaman should have come in ahead.

 

[Titan24]

Jongwe has been made to look like Malcom Marshall in this series. Credit to him though

 

[Rafa]

Sharjeel is finished. He won't be the same explosive batsman ever again.

 

[MHN1293]

Would have been a good powerplay had pak not lost sharjeel

 

[Markhor]

Okayish start from Pakistan. 42 is the average PP score at Harare.

Realistically we need a big score from one of these two to produce a decent total.

 

[daytrader]

Only mediciocre and worst management will audacity to change position of there best batsman

Best batsman is the captain and hence part of the management. He definitely has a say where he bats

 

[criclover2311]

People blaming Sharjeel forgetting even Rohit Sharma fails in matches, Rohit sometimes fails through whole half IPL. Nonetheless this lineup is better than one with Danish and Asif and Haider, we need to give this lineup few matches, Sigh of relief after Sharjeel hits those two fours with ease and elegance which Asif Haider and Danish could not in ten matches.

 

[sindhiboy]

This is still a good start

 

[Ahmed216]

Dont know why every1 is having a go @ sharjeel. He did much better than Asif would have in a high pressure game against Zim

 

[90MPH]

Much better running today - going for 2s urgently

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

We will win this match but will this batting order and approach help us against bigger teams?

 

[Titan24]

Shout out to the pitch curators; yes these are used pitches but still horrible.

Worked out well for Zim as scoring matches with slow wickets and huge boundaries was the best chance for Zim as temperament of Pak batsmen outside of Babar and Rizwan isnt the greatest to be able to adjust.

 

[MHN1293]

Dont know why every1 is having a go @ sharjeel. He did much better than Asif would have in a high pressure game against Zim

Sharjeel is bashed not nearly enough as asif.