HARARE: Umar Akmal’s aggressive innings proved crucial in a low-scoring game as Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 15 runs to win Tuesday’s Twenty20 International at Harare Sports Club and sweep the two-match series.

Umar, who was named man-of-the-match, scored 38 not out from 28 balls and added 24 runs with Imad Wasim in the last two overs of Pakistan’s innings to boost the tourists’ total to 136 for six, which proved beyond Zimbabwe despite Sean Williams’ fighting 40 not out.

Williams shared a 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Sikandar Raza — the only half-century stand in the series — but was always playing catch-up after the hosts had slumped to 24 for four at the start of their chase.

Zimbabwe finished on 121 for seven, as left-arm spinner Imad, adjudged man-of-the-series,once again proved the pick of the Pakistani bowlers with figures of one for 14 from four overs.

“Our bowlers were good again,” Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said at the post-match presentation. “Body language is very important and whatever the coach has asked, the boys have delivered.”

With the game being played on the same pitch as Sunday’s series opener, low and slow conditions made the going heavy for batsmen throughout.

Although Pakistan made a brighter start after they once again won the toss and opted to bat first, they lost wickets whenever their batsmen attempted to force the pace.

While Sohaib Maqsood anchored the innings with a run-a-ball 26, only Umar and Imad were able to take the attack to the hosts.

Umar was one of the few batsmen who got to grips with the conditions as he worked the ball around superbly, scoring just 14 of his runs in boundaries.

After struggling to gain any meaningful momentum, the tourists went into the final two overs with just 112 runs on the board and were grateful to the pair for some late blows.

Seamer Luke Jongwe was the pick of the home bowlers with two for 24 from his four overs, including the wicket of experienced opener Mohammad Hafeez (17).

With the same task that had faced them on Sunday, Zimbabwe’s batsmen had an opportunity to show what they had learned but lost their top four with just 24 runs on the board.

That left the middle order with too much to do, and although Williams shared a 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket — the only half-century stand of the series — with Sikandar he was always playing catch-up.

Once Sikandar had been bowled for 36 by Imran Khan and Elton Chigumbura’s brief but entertaining stay at the crease had come to an end, Zimbabwe’s hopes vanished.

Despite having wickets in hand going into the final four overs, Zimbabwe found boundaries hard to come by with Imad and paceman Mohammad Irfan (two for 25) especially hard to get away.

“I can repeat what I said after the last game,” said Chigumbura. “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.”

The two sides have just one day off before the three-match One-day International series gets underway at the same venue on Thursday.

Scoreboard:

PAKISTAN:
Mohammad Hafeez c Utseya b Jongwe 17
Ahmed Shehzad c Cremer b Panyangara 7
Sohaib Maqsood c Chigumbura b Utseya 26
Shoaib Malik c Sikandar b Cremer 15
Mohammad Rizwan c Williams b Jongwe 16
Umar Akmal not out 38
Shahid Afridi c Williams b Panyangara 2
Imad Wasim not out 13

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-1) 2
TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs) 136
FALL OF WKTS: 1-24, 2-34, 3-64, 4-72, 5-106, 6-111.
DID NOT BAT: Sohail Tanvir, Imran Khan, Mohammad Irfan.
BOWLING: Chibhabha 2-0-13-0; Panyangara 4-0-27-2 (1w); Jongwe
4-0-24-2; Williams 4-0-26-0; Cremer 4-0-25-1; Utseya 2-0-20-1.

ZIMBABWE:
H. Masakadza c Imran b Irfan 9
C.J. Chibhabha lbw b Sohail 3
C.R. Ervine run out 1
R. Mutumbami b Imad 3
S.C. Williams not out 40
Sikandar Raza b Imran 36
E. Chigumbura c Malik b Irfan 17
L.M. Jongwe c and b Imran 8
A.G. Cremer not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-1) 4
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs) 121
FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-15, 3-16, 4-24, 5-84, 6-101, 7-120.
DID NOT BAT: P. Utseya, T. Panyangara.
BOWLING: Sohail Tanvir 4-0-18-1; Mohammad Irfan 4-0-25-2; Imad Wasim 4-0-14-1 (1w); Shahid Afridi 4-0-26-0; Imran Khan Jr 4-0-35-2.

RESULT: Pakistan won by 15 runs to win series 2-0.
UMPIRES: L. Rusere and R.B. Tiffin (both Zimbabwe).
TV UMPIRE: T.J. Matibiri (Zimbabwe).
MATCH REFEREE: D.T. Jukes (England).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Umar Akmal.
MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Imad Wasim.
FIRST MATCH: Harare, Pakistan won by 13 runs.

Published in Dawn September 30th, 2015

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