ZIM vs PAK Ball by Ball Commentary

12:44 PM IST Right! That's all from game 2. What a match this one turned out to be. Not many would've given Zimbabwe a chance after the first innings. However, they believed and turned things around amazingly well. Now, the final game of the series is set up nicely. And everyone will feel that this Zimbabwe side will give Pakistan a run for the money. That game is to be played on Sunday, 25th April 2021. Do join for the action then. For now, it is goodbye from our end. Stay safe and take care.

12:38 PM IST Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwe skipper, says that it was a big turnaround from the first game and adds that is all he could have asked for. Taylor says he would be lying if he said they were confident. Tells they stuck though and as they knew batting was tough. Taylor says they need to do better with the bat in the Powerplay. Tells they see Pakistan as a stronger bowling unit than a batting unit and hope to put on a better score with the bat.

12:37 PM IST Luke Jongwe is named Player of the Match for his superb performance. He starts by thanking the almighty and then thanks his teammates and coach. Jongwe says that batting was getting difficult as the game went on. Adds that they decided to take pace off and that is what he did. On his celebrations, Jognwe says he tried copying Shamsi from South Africa.

12:35 PM IST Pakistani skipper Babar Azam, admits they played poor cricket as a batting group. Babar says they are struggling with the middle order but says they need to step up and hope they do it in the next game. Tells the wicket was a bit sticky but tells it is not an excuse as they should have won it.

12:34 PM IST Time for the presentation!

12:34 PM IST Ryan Burl is caught for a chat. He is all smiles and says he cannot believe what has happened. Adds cricket is a funny game. Tells they just carried on after they got the better of Fakhar and Hafeez. Tells they thought they could win it after the fall of the third wicket. Credits the fielders as he thinks it was a big turnaround from the last game. Tells they had a hard conversation about their fielding in the last game.

12:33 PM IST Earlier in the game, Pakistani bowlers kept Zimbabwe silent throughout the 20 overs of the first innings. Apart from Kamunhukamwe who took 40 balls for his 34, none of the Zimbabwe batters could enter into the 20s. While the likes of Marumani, Madhevere and Chakabva got in, they failed to play big shots and found themselves struggling against the quality Pakistani bowling. All the bowlers who bowled were superb for Pakistan. Hasnain and Aziz got two while others managed to take one and stop Zimbabwe to a low score. However, their batters failed to get over the line against some fine bowling from Zimbabwe and some poor batting tactics from Pakistan.

12:30 PM IST Zimbabwe were sensational with the ball. They were just too hot for Pakistan. What a performance from them. Not many would've even thought that they will be able to defend this score but they believed. They kept building the pressure with dots and then Pakistan choked under pressure. They went for big shots and kept throwing their wickets away. Every bowler that Taylor turned to gave him the perfect response. Jonge was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with a 4-fer. However, credit to the spinners for bowling tightly in the middle overs. Burl and Madhevere bowled amazingly well, against Pakistani batters who are known to be good players of spin. Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava too did their job nicely and they bowled very tight lines and lengths in the Powerplay. So, a sensational show with the ball from Zimbabwe.

12:25 PM IST Chasing the total, Pakistan started very slowly. The pressure was building touch and Rizwan fell. Zaman didn't last long either. Hafeez too couldn't do much and fell soon. Babar held on to his end but when his team needed him to play the big shots, he fell trying one and left the team reeling. After that, they just kept losing wickets and the pressure kept getting bigger. And they have been shot down to under 100 and have fallen well short in this chase.

12:23 PM IST WOW! What a game! What a turnaround. Not many would've given Zimbabwe a chance after they could only muster 118 batting first. The kind of batting lineup Pakistan has, looked like it would be an easy chase. But well, take a bow, Zimbabwe. What a performance. Their bowlers kept things tight and didn't allow Pakistan any momentum and they choked them in the chase!

12:23 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! ZIMBABWE HAVE DONE IT! They have bowled out Pakistan for 99 and won their first T20I after a long time. Full around off, Arshad Iqbal swings and hits it in the air to long off. Ryan Burl there takes the catch.  ZIMBABWE WIN BY 19 RUNS!

12:23 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Good length ball on off, Rauf checks his shot and ends up chipping it to mid off where Brendan Taylor takes the simple catch.

12:23 PM IST Another swing and miss. This is a sealed game for Zimbabwe now. Unless there is some indiscpline sprinkled with miracle.

12:23 PM IST Slower ball outside off, Rauf swings but misses.

12:23 PM IST OUT! RUN OUT! Slower ball outside off. Usman Qadir swings but misses. Rauf wants the strike so he goes for the run. Usman is unsure. Chakabva keeps his calm and gives the ball to Jongwe who makes no mistake and whips the stumps at the non-striker's end.

12:22 PM IST Swing and a miss! Dot ball in the end. Rauf will not be on strike. A slower length ball, around off, Rauf swings hard but fails to connect.

12:22 PM IST SIX! BANG! What a blow! Is there some hope? Rauf would like to believe after this hit. A length ball, it is right in the slot.

12:22 PM IST WIDE! Slipped way outside off, Rauf swings but fails to make any connection.

12:22 PM IST OUT! RUN OUT! This might just be the final nail in the coffin here for Pakistan. The last batter, the batter who was set is out of here. Aziz in need of strike has fallen down. Good length delivery on middle and leg, Aziz hits it uppishly to the left of long on. Tarisai Musakanda gets to the ball quickly. Aziz calls for the second but it is a suicidal run. Tarisai Musakanda shows smartness as he sends the throw at the keeper's end. It is a decent throw too as it is close to the stumps. Regis Chakabva collects the ball and disturns the stumps. Danish Aziz is well short of the crease. Zimbabwe players are extatic. They know they have all but sealed this game.

12:17 PM IST 20 needed in the final over. Luke Jongwe to deliver the final over of the game.

12:14 PM IST Here's Haris Rauf now.

12:12 PM IST Dot! This is worth its weight in gold. Good length ball on middle and leg, Aziz punches it back to the bowler.

12:11 PM IST FOUR! Much-needed for Pakistan. First one for Aziz, is this the turning point for Aziz? Full toss on leg, Aziz hits it over square leg. There is a lot of vacant area there as square leg is up inside the circle.  Gets a boundary!

12:10 PM IST Usman Qadir jouns Danish Aziz in the middle.

12:10 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Faheem had to go for it but he does not get under it and departs. Pakistan have made a mess of this below-par chase. Full ball outside off, Faheem looks to hit it over long on but he does not get under it. He hits it to the left of long on. Burl there runs to that side and takes the catch.

12:09 PM IST Who will bowl the penultimate over of the game? Blessing Muzarabani to bowl.

12:08 PM IST Just a single off the last ball. Fantastic from Luke Jongwe. Just 6 off the over. The last ball is hit towards mid-wicket by Faheem. He keeps the strike with a single. 32 needed off the last 2 overs. Certainly Zimbabwe's game to lose now.

12:07 PM IST Length ball around off, Aziz flat bats it to long on for one. Singles won't help Pakistan.

12:07 PM IST Another play and a miss! Outside off, slightly shorter. Aziz once again looks to drag it from there to the on side but misses.

12:06 PM IST Swing and a miss! Length ball outside off, Aziz looks to hit it across the line but misses.

12:06 PM IST WIDE! Slower ball but misses hbis radar and bowls it on the wromg side of the tramline. Wided by the umpire.

12:05 PM IST Excellent fielding! Full and wide outside off, Aziz slams it to the left of sweeper cover. The fielder there dives and manages to save runs for his side.

12:04 PM IST Slower bouncer. Faheem pulls it to deep mid-wicketb for one.

12:04 PM IST 38 needed in 18 balls.

12:03 PM IST Slower ball. Outfoxes Faheem as he swings but misses. Regis Chakabva fails to gather the ball. They take a bye.

12:02 PM IST Shortish ball at pace. Faheem looks to pull but misses.

12:02 PM IST On the pads, Aziz flicks it to square leg for one.

12:02 PM IST Full outside off, Aziz looks to play but misses.

12:01 PM IST Who is in at 7? Faheem Ashraf it is.

12:00 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Asif Ali fails again and this is turning out to be a nightmare for Pakistan. They are certainly digging a hole for themselves. Slower ball bowled into the surface. Asif Ali looks to sflat bat it over mid off but the lack of pace sees him just chip it to short cover. Substitute, Donald Tiripano there makes no mistake and takes the catch.

11:59 AM IST Swing and a miss! Length ball outside off. Asif looks to cut but misses.

11:57 AM IST On the pads, Asif flicks it in front of mid-wicket and gets jus a run.

11:57 AM IST Pakistan in trouble. Surely! Asif Ali joins Danish Aziz in the middle.

11:56 AM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Massive moment in this game. The Pakistan skipper is out of here. The captain who was controlling this chase departs just when he was to change gears. Short ball around off, Babar looks to slam it over point but his bottom hand comes off the bat. He ends up slicing it to the man at sweeper cover. Wesley Madhevere there makes no mistake and takes the catch.

11:55 AM IST Slower ball outside off, Aziz cuts it behind point for one.

11:54 AM IST Length ball on off. It is a straight ball. Babar knocks it to wide long on for one.

11:53 AM IST WIDE! Wide outside off. Too wide though as Aziz leaves this one as it i on the wrong side of the tramline.

11:53 AM IST WIDE! Wide outside off. Too wide though as Aziz leaves this one as it i on the wrong side of the tramline.

11:52 AM IST Slower shortish balll. Aziz pulls it to deep mid-wicket. They call for two straightaway and get it. Good running.

11:52 AM IST Bowling change! Luke Jongwe is back for his 2nd over.

11:50 AM IST Short and wide outside off, Danish cuts it to sweeper cover. Only a run. 47 needed in final 5.

11:50 AM IST On middle, Babar looks to slog this one on the leg side but the ball takes the inside edge and goes to short fine leg. A single taken.

11:50 AM IST Loopy ball outside off, pushed to long off for one.

11:50 AM IST WIDE! Floated outside off, spinning further away. Danish lets it be. Wided.

11:49 AM IST Full and just around off, Babar stroks it to long off and takes one.

11:49 AM IST Fired outside off, Danish looks to cut but gets an inside edge. The keeper fumbles and they sneak a run.

11:49 AM IST Fired outside off, Danish looks to cut but gets an inside edge. The keeper fumbles and they sneak a run.

11:47 AM IST Single to end the 14th over. Another tight over. Flat and around middle, Danish nudges this to the on side and keeps the strike for the next over. Burl finishes with 4-0-21-2.

11:47 AM IST Short and wide outside off, Babar cuts it to deep point for one.

11:46 AM IST Tossed up and outside off, hit hard but down to long off. Only a single.

11:46 AM IST On off, driven to long on for a run.

11:46 AM IST Shortish and outside off, Babar cuts but cannot get it past point.

11:45 AM IST Looped up and outside off, driven to long off for one.

11:44 AM IST Single to end the over. Flat and around middle, tucked towards mid-wicket for one. 58 needed in 7 overs.

11:44 AM IST Full and outside off, this one is poked to point.

11:43 AM IST Tossed up and around off, played back to the bowler.

11:43 AM IST Shortish and around middle, Babar tucks it on the leg side for one.

11:42 AM IST On middle, this one is flicked through mid-wicket for one.

11:42 AM IST WIDE! Slipped down the leg side. Aziz looks to flick but misses. Wided.

11:42 AM IST Big appeal but turned down! Flat and around middle, it lands and skids in. Aziz looks to keep it out but misses to get hit on the pad. They appeal but nothing from the umpire.

11:41 AM IST Floated full and around off, Danish flicks it to deep mid-wicket to open his account.

11:40 AM IST The new man in is Danish Aziz!

11:40 AM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Burl has another one. Hafeez is the man who departs. Pakistan will feel the heat now. Tossed up and around middle, Hafeez dances down the track and looks to clear long on. Fails to get to the pitch and ends up giving a simple catch to Maskakadza.

11:39 AM IST Dragged short, just outside off. Babar pulls but finds long on. Only a single again.

11:38 AM IST Full and around off, pushed wide of the man at cover. One more easy single.

11:38 AM IST Flat and around middle, Babar tucks it through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

11:37 AM IST Shortish and just outside off, punched wide of diving point fielder. A single taken.

11:36 AM IST Two to end the over! Short ball around off, Babar pulls it wide of long on and takes two.

11:36 AM IST Shortish and around middle, Hafeez punches it to long on for one. 50 up for Pakistan.

11:35 AM IST Flat and around middle, worked on the leg side for nothing.

11:35 AM IST Tossed up aroun off, driven to long off for one.

11:35 AM IST Appeal for LBW but turned down! Full and on middle and leg, Babar looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pad. The ball goes on the off side. An appeal but turned down. Maybe some bat.

11:34 AM IST FOUR! Cut away! Poor ball to begin the over! Short and wide outside off. Babars cuts it through backward point and finds the fence.

11:33 AM IST Around off, Azam strokes it to the off side and keeps the strike. Pakistan are 44/2 at the halfway stage. They need another 75 runs in the last 10 overs.

11:33 AM IST Tossed up on off, Hafeez nudges it to long off and gets another single.

11:33 AM IST WIDE! Flighted outside off. Too far outside off., Hafeez leaves it alone. Wided by the umpire.

11:32 AM IST Short on off, Azam tucks it to the leg side and rotates.

11:32 AM IST The Professor is off the mark. Floated on middle, Hafeez milks it to long on for one.

11:31 AM IST Flighted on off, Hafeez pushes it to cover.

11:31 AM IST Short and wide outside off, Babar punches it to cover for one.

11:30 AM IST Appeal for caught behind but the umpire is unimpressed. Hafeez is shocked and gestures Chakabva what are you appealing for. Flat and quick outside off. Hafeez looks to cut but misses.

11:29 AM IST Short and straight around off. The Pakistan skipper knocks it to long on and gets the first run of the over.

11:29 AM IST Flighted on off, Babar pushes it to cover.

11:29 AM IST Short outside off. Babar chops it onto his crease.

11:29 AM IST Floated on off, Babar pushes it to cover.

11:28 AM IST Darted on the pads. Babar looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pad.

11:28 AM IST Bowling change! Wellington Masakadza is on now.

11:27 AM IST Short outside off. Hafeez places it but straight to point. 8 off Burl's first but also the wicket of Fakhar Zaman.

11:27 AM IST Who is in at no. 4? It is veteran Mohammad Hafeez.

11:26 AM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Fakhar fails and Zimbabwe get another one. Floated outside off, Fakhar has to stretch out a bit to reach that. He looks to whack it downtown but mistimes it and hits it to the right of long on. Tarisai Musakanda there makes no mistake and takes the catch.

11:24 AM IST Flatter around off, Fakhar taps it to point and looks for a run but Babar quickly says no.

11:24 AM IST On the pads, Babar works it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

11:23 AM IST Floated on off, Azam keeps it out.

11:23 AM IST FOUR! Another classic Babar Azam shot! He looks in the mood! Flighted outside off, Babar drives it through point and gets another boundary.

11:22 AM IST Floated on off, Zaman pushes it to cover.

11:21 AM IST Again a little miscommunication! Short outside off, Zaman cuts it to point. Babar comes out for a run bu8t is again sent back.

11:21 AM IST Short, outside off. Fakhar punches it to cover.

11:21 AM IST On the pads, Babar turns it to the leg side for a single.

11:21 AM IST FOUR! Superbly played! Short and turning in from outside off. Babar gets on his back foot and cuts it against the spin through point for a boundary.

11:20 AM IST Flighted on off. Fakhar turns it towards mid-wicket for one.

11:19 AM IST Change in bowling. Wesley Madhevere to bowl now.

11:19 AM IST On off, Babar keeps it out.

11:18 AM IST NOT OUT! Direct hit would have seen the end of Babar! Length ball on the pads, Babr turns it to the leg side and looks for a run. Madhevere dives to his left and makes a brilliant stop. Babar comes down for a run but he is sent back. Wesley Madhevere sends a low throw to the keeper. Regis Chakabva does well to collect and disturb the stumps but Babar is back in.

11:18 AM IST Run out appeal taken upstairs. Looks like Babar is safe.

11:17 AM IST FOUR! Classic Babar! Wide outside off, Babar pounces on the width and slams his punch through covers for a boundary.

11:16 AM IST Length ball on off, Babar blocks it.

11:16 AM IST Fakhar is up and running straightaway! On the pads, Fakhar turns it to the on side for one.

11:15 AM IST Fakhar Zaman is in at no.3.

11:14 AM IST OUT! CAUGHT! The hero from the last game departs and just what Zimbabwe needed. An early wicket is what the doctor prescribed and they have got just that. Luke Jongwe strikes in the very first ball of his game. Good length delivery around off, the ball sticks onto the surface. Rizwan checks his drive as the ball come slower than he anticipated. Rizwan ends up chipping it straight to the right of short cover. Tarisai Musakanda makes no mistake and takes a simple catch.

11:13 AM IST Bowling change! Luke Jongwe is on now.

11:12 AM IST Fullish and around off, Azam gets behind the ball to block. Just 4 off the 5th over.

11:12 AM IST Length ball around off, pushed to mid on by Babar.

11:11 AM IST Confusion but safe! Length ball around off, Babat plays it to the right side of the bowler. He thinks for the single and takes off. Rizwan is rooted to his crease as he is watching if the ball will go past the bowler. As it goes past, Rizwan starts to go but Babar sees that mid on is quick to the ball, he sends him back.

11:11 AM IST FOUR! Babar finnaly finds the fence. Short ball, wide outside off. Babar slaps it through the covers for a boundary. That should get the Pakistani skipper going.

11:10 AM IST Fullish and around off. Babar pushes it to mid on.

11:09 AM IST Good length and around middle, tucked on the leg side for a run.

11:08 AM IST Play and a miss! Good length again and angling away again. This time it lands around off. Babar slashes at it but misses to get any bat. Just 2 off this over.

11:08 AM IST Shortish and angling away from outside off. Babar lets it be. He thinks this will be called wide. Not given. Babar is surprised.

11:07 AM IST Good length and around off, pushed to mid on this time.

11:07 AM IST Wide outside off, this time Rizwan pushes it down to third man and takes one.

11:07 AM IST Play and a miss! Length ball angled away. Rizwan looks to cut without moving his feet. Misses to connect.

11:07 AM IST Back of a length ball on middle, Babar mistimes the pull wide of mid on. Single taken.

11:05 AM IST Dot to end! It is another good over from Muzarabani. The last ball is on a length and around off. Rizwan gets forward and blocks.

11:04 AM IST Short again and just around off, Babar taps it to third man and gets to the other end.

11:03 AM IST Back of a length and outside off, chopped on the off side for one.

11:03 AM IST Good work at third man! Full and wide outside off, Babar once again goes for the uppish drive. Gets a thick outside edge. The ball is racing to the fence but the third man fielder dives to his left and makes a fine stop.

11:02 AM IST Full and on middle, flicked down to deep square leg for an easy single.

11:01 AM IST Absolute ripper from Muzarabani. Shortish in length and angled in from outside off. Rizwan stays back in his crease and has a tentative push at it, only to get beaten.

11:00 AM IST Short and wide again, Rizwan pushes it between short third man and point. Third man gets to his right and keeps it down to one. 7 off the over.

11:00 AM IST Length ball just outside off, pushed towards short third man for nothing.

11:00 AM IST Azam is off the mark too! Fullish and outside off, Babar looks to loft it over the off side but the ball goes to third man off the outside edge.

10:59 AM IST Short and wide outside off, it is poked to third man for one.

10:58 AM IST Back of a length and around off, pushed towards the cover region.

10:57 AM IST FOUR! Cut away! Poor ball from Richard to begin the spell. Short and wide outside off. Rizwan cuts it through backward point and beats third man to his right.

10:58 AM IST Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Richard Ngarava!

10:56 AM IST Good ball to end the opening over. A tight one. This one is on a length and around middle, Babar looks to work it on the leg side but the ball moves away a touch. It takes the outer half and goes to the off side.

10:56 AM IST Back of a length and on middle, it is pulled down to deep mid-wicket for one.

10:55 AM IST Short and on the body, tucked towards short fine leg.

10:54 AM IST Fuller and on middle, Rizwan flicks it wide of the man at mid on to open his account with a brace.

10:54 AM IST Shortish and around off, poked towards point. They think for the single but opt against it.

10:53 AM IST Excellent ball from Muzarabani first up. Lovely length and line. Good length ball, just outside off, it lands and then straightens. Rizwan stays back trying to defend but fails to put bat on ball.