Pakistan vs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045: First innings – ICC World Cup 2011 Recap
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 took to the field against Zimbabwe at Pallekele knowing that a victory would cement their place in the knockout stage of the competition. Zimbabwe managed a total of 151 runs in 39.4 overs before rain meant the end of their innings.
Zimbabwe’s Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421 and Umar Gul opened the bowling.
Brendan Taylor and Regis Chakbva made their way to the crease for the Zimbabweans. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 did not stay for long though. After smashing an exquisite boundary he made his way back to the pavilion on the fifth ball. Kamran Akmal, to everyone’s amazement, took
the catch as Taylor’s drive managed to get a thick edge off Razzaq’s well pitched ball.
The next over only got worse for the Zimbabweans, as Umar Gul had Chakbva out leg before wicket on the last ball of his first over. With Chakbva not adding any runs to Zimbabwe’s total.
Zimbabwe was in trouble having lost two wickets for just five runs after two overs. Vusimuzi Sibanada and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tatenda-Taibu-c92882 tried to get a partnership going for their side, but Gul was using the new ball well and restricted the batsmen.
Gul had another breakthrough in the sixth over when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 took a brilliant catch at first slip. Sibanda out for five runs, as Zimbabwe’s top order struggled.
Craig Ervine was the next man, as he looked to steady the ship. Along with Taibu they began getting runs on the board. Neither shying away from playing their strokes, as they each hit two boundaries.
After taking a brilliant catch earlier on, Misbah-ul-Haq dropped Ervine at 13. Something everyone’s come to expect from his team-mate Kamran Akmal.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 brought on Wahab Riaz in place of Umar Gul and he struck in his first over as well. Afridi took a well judged catch and Taibu’s innings was over at 19. After 13 overs Zimbabwe were struggling at 43 for 4.
Afridi introduced himself to the bowling attack replacing Razzaq as Gregory Lamb was the new man in for the batting side. Afridi had his wicket soon after drinks when he caught Lamb off his own bowling. Lamb departed with 16 runs to his name.
Running out of batsmen, Elton Chigumbura took to the crease as Abdur Rehman looked to keep up the pressure for the Pakistani side. Gul returned to the bowling attack just as play was stopped because of the rain.
Play continued when the rain subsided, but the ominous clouds remained. Ervine looked in good form and batted well for his half century before Muhammad Hafeez broke through his defences and bowled him for 52 runs.
The batting side did get a partnership going, as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Prosper-Utseya-c82728 joined Chigumbura and the pair batted until the 40th over.
Rain stopped play again, but not before Gul had Utseya out for 18 in what was the last ball of the Zimbabwean innings.
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