LAHORE: A magnificent 142-run opening stand between upcoming Mukhtar Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad backed by a three-wicket burst from returning Mohammad Sami steered Pakistan to a five-wicket win against Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

With this win, the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series with the remaining game to be held at the same venue tomorrow.

Chasing a difficult-looking 173, Pakistan crossed the line for the loss of five wickets in 19.3 overs after their openers had set the stage for what could have been a bigger win for the home side.

Right-handed Mukhtar set the pace with his swashbuckling knock, leaving his senior partner Shehzad play second fiddle.

The 22-year-old Mukhtar cracked two fours off pacer Tinashe Panyangara to square-leg and through mid-on to collect 11 runs in the first over.

In the third over, Mukhtar slammed four consecutive boundaries to left-arm pacer Christopher Mpofu as Pakistan rocketed to 36-0 in three overs.

In the next over, Brian Vitori became Mukhtar’s victim as the belligerent opener cracked three boundaries off the last three deliveries of the over.

Shehzad hit his first four off fast bowler Sean Williams in the fifth over to complete Pakistan’s 50 and then he slammed a six to make it 60-0 in five overs.

Pakistan cruised to 100-run mark in 9.2 overs. In the 14th over Shehzad was caught by R Mutumbami off Williams for a well-crafted 39-ball 55 featuring six fours and a six.

Shehzad’s exit triggered a mini batting collapse as the hosts slumped to 169-5 before captain Afridi hit the winning four off Panyangara with three balls to spare.

Zimbabwe batsman Vusi Sibanda and Pakistan pacer Bilawal Bhatti fall after colliding.—AFP

Mukhtar followed Shehzad in the next over, also caught by Mutumbami off leg-spinner Graeme Cremer for a match- winning 83 off mere 45 balls. The youngster adorned his knock with 12 fluent boundaries and three sixes -- a brilliant effort that earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Mohammad Hafeez (12) and Umar Akmal (4) went back in quick succession as the home side started showing their usual signs of collapse. Shoaib Malik (7 off 14) with the bat failed to impress anyone. Cremer took 2-28.

Sami earned the award of best bowler of the match, while Mukhtar also honoured for hitting most number of sixes.

Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura won the toss and decided to bat first sending Hamilton Masakadza and Vusimuzi Sibanda to open the innings.

Ahmed Shehzad prepares to play a shot against Zimbabwe.—M.Arif / White Star

While Sibanda was defensive, Masakadza was in aggressive mood, started hard hitting from the second over bowled by Sami, playing his first T20 after a lapse of almost three years.

Zimbabwe collected 42 runs in the first five overs, with Masakadza having the lion’s share of 36 and his partner was on 4. He hit two boundaries to Sami in his first over, collecting 11 runs and in the next over Anwar Ali consumed 10 runs, with two boundaries.

Afridi replaced Sami with Bilawal Bhatti but to no avail as he gave away 10 runs including the first six from fully-charged Masakadza over mid-wicket.

Wahab Riaz was tested in place of Anwar but he met the same fate conceding 10 in his opening over.

Sami finally struck in his second over, removing both the openers at the total of 58 on consecutive deliveries.

First, he sent back Sibanda (15-ball 13) caught by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who ran for 20 yards behind to claim a tough catch. The opening stand had provided quickfire 58 off 41 balls. Then he clean bowled dangerous Masakazada for a well-earned 43 off 27 balls, cracking seven fours and one six.

With Chigumbura and Sikandar Raza Butt at the crease, Zimbabwe were 114-4 in the 15th over, and it looked the visitors will not set a big target.

But from the 16th over, the situation changed mainly by Chigambura (35-ball 54). In the last five overs, Zimbabwe collected 58 runs for the loss of two more wickets.

Spectators along with Chacha Cricket wave during the first T20 at the Gaddafi Stadium.—AFP

Sami bowled an eventful third over. First, he was smashed by Sikandar Raza for a six and then for a boundary, before he was caught by Ahmed Shehzad for 13-ball 17 as the tourists slumped to 142-5 in the 17th over.

Sami conceded 36 runs in his four overs for his three wickets.

Scoreboard

ZIMBABWE:

H. Masakadza b Sami43 V. Sibanda c Sarfraz b Sami13 C. Coventry c Sarfraz b Wahab14 E Chigumbura b Riaz54 S. Williams c Wahab b Malik16 Sikandar Raza c Shehzad b Sami17 R. Mutumbami not out4 G. Cremer not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-1, W-5)9

TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs)172

DID NOT BAT: T. Panyangara, G. Mpofu, B. Vitori.

FALL OF WKTS: 1-58, 2-58, 3-73, 4-100, 5-142, 6-168.

BOWLING: Anwar 3-0-18-0; Sami 4-0-36-3 (1w); Bilawal 3-0-37-0 (1nb); Wahab 4-0-38-2 (4w); Afridi 3-0-28-0; Malik 3-0-12-1.

PAKISTAN:

M. Ahmed c c Mutumbami b Cremer83 A. Shehzad c Mutumbami b Williams55 Mohammad Hafeez c Coverntry b Cremer12 Shoaib Malik b Panyangara7 Umar Akmal c Sibanda b Vitori4 Sarfraz Ahmed not out3 Shahid Afridi not out4

EXTRAS (LB-5)5

TOTAL (for five wkts, 19.3 overs)173

FALL OF WKTS: 1-142, 2-144, 3-157, 4-162, 5-169.

DID NOT BAT: Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami.

BOWLING: Panyangara 2.3-0-28-1; Vitori 4-0-24-1; Mpofu 3-0-32-0; Williams 4-0-33-0; Cremer 4-0-28-2; Raza 2-0-23-0.

RESULT: Pakistan won by five wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mukhtar Ahmed

UMPIRES: Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza (both Pakistan)

TV UMPIRE: Ahmed Shahab (Pakistan)

MATCH REFEREE: Azhar Khan (Pakistan)

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2015

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