Pakistan v Zimbabwe: 1st ODI - http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alan-Raymond-Butcher-c42769 reckons the slow run rate cost Zimbabwe the game – Cricket News Update
The Zimbabwean coach, Alan Butcher, has said that the slow run-rate of Zimbabwe at the start of their chase cost the hosts the first One Day International of the three-match series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, played at Bulawayo on Thursday,
September 8.
While chasing 248 to win, the hosts scored just 30 runs between the 10th and 20th over of their innings and it was the prolific all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898, who contained the Zimbabwean batsmen during these 10
overs.
"The turning point was the period between 10 and 20 overs of our chase, when we only scored 30 runs," said http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Butcher-c48849 after his team lost the nail biter by just five runs.
"We probably gave Mohammad Hafeez too much respect. One more run an over in that period and we'd have won before the last over," the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 coach added further.
The hosts, after getting off to a quick and steady start, reached 53 for 2 in the 13th over, with opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Sibanda-c2740 leading from the front despite losing his opening partner in the third over. But Mohammad Hafeez, who
was given the ball in the 12th over, was remarkable with his line and length as he conceded only 38 runs in his quota of 10 overs, which he bowled in a single spell.
At the end of 20 overs, though Zimbabwe had lost only 2 wickets, the required run-rate had climbed to 5.9 and kept rising there onwards. Not even the half century stand between the home skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/T-Taibu-c2630 could
help Zimbabwe get past the five-run defeat.
By the time Zimbabwe took the batting powerplay in the 43rd over, there were no power-hitters left to make full use of the fielding restrictions.
Buthcher said that when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 and Taibu were playing, they still had a lot of overs and were quite hopeful, but Taibu’s dismissal in the 41st over turned out to be a major blow for the hosts.
The second ODI of the series will be played at Harare on Sunday, September 11.
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