ZIM vs PAK Ball by Ball Commentary

Richard Ngarava has done it! Jahandad Khan pitches it up, on middle, Richard Ngarava bunts it down the pitch where it hits the stumps at the bowler's end and deflects away. The batters get the single they needed. ZIMBABWE WIN BY 2 WICKETS!

OUT! TAKEN! MORE DRAMA! Jahandad Khan goes short again and on middle, angling in too. Tashinga Musekiwa tries to go for the glory hit but the ball gets big on him and he mistimes his pull in the air. Tayyab Tahir at mid-wicket settles under it and takes it nicely. Zimbabwe still needs 1 run to win with 2 balls remaining!

BUZZERS! SCORES LEVEL! Hard length and on off, Tinotenda Maposa swats it back to the bowler. Tashinga Musekiwa sets off for the run and is halfway down the pitch, Jahandad Khan collects but misses his shy at the bowler's end and now the batters get the run.

SIX! Oh..my word! Take a bow, Tinotenda Maposa! Jahandad Khan lands this back of a length and on middle, angling in again. Tinotenda Maposa swing hard across the line and connects from the middle of the bat as it goes sailing over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. The crowd finds its voice again and Maposa is celebrating already and why shouldn't he? Zimbabwe needs 2 runs in 4 balls now!

FOUR! What a start to the over for Zimbabwe! Jahandad Khan sees the batter advance and bangs this short of a length and angling into the body of the batter. Tinotenda Maposa goes for the pull but gets cramped up. However, he somehow manages to glove it past the keeper and to the fine leg fence for a boundary. 8 needed in 5 now!

Fuller and on middle, Tinotenda Maposa swings across the line and gets an inside edge towards short fine for one. Zimbabwe needs 12 runs in the last over. Remember, Pakistan got 13 in the last over and that is turning out to be the difference here.

OUT! LBW! Abbas Afridi comes back well and has the last laugh here! He serves this on a good length and on middle, angling in. Wellington Masakadza stays in his crease and goes for a swipe across the line but misses it completely and gets hit on the pads right in front of the stumps. A big appeal and the finger goes up. Zimbabwe seven down now and needs 13 off 7 balls!

FOUR! Gets it away! A crucial one for Zimbabwe! Abbas Afridi pitches it up and on middle, Wellington Masakadza backs away and lofts it over mid off for a boundary. The fielder came up just before this ball and Pakistan paid the price.

Swing and a miss! Abbas Afridi once again takes pace off, hard length and outside off, Wellington Masakadza goes through his heave across the line early and misses.

Pakistan cannot afford to give away extras here! He tries the slower one again but bowls this full and down the leg side, Wellington Masakadza fails to connect with his swipe. Wided.

Fuller one and on middle, takes pace off, Wellington Masakadza slogs it wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace. 18 needed in 10 now!

Back of a length and on middle, Tashinga Musekiwa swipes it towards deep square leg for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! A huge moment in the game! Jahandad Khan gets the big fish, Sikandar Raza here and this game is going down to the wire. He bangs this one hard into the surface and on middle, Sikandar Raza uses his feet to swat it away but the ball gets big on him. He mistimes it up in the air towards long on where Omair Yousuf runs forward and pouches it safely. Raza goes for 19 off 20 and Zimbabwe still needs 21 runs in the last two overs.

Hard length and on off, angles in, Sikandar Raza gets cramped up and stabs it back to the bowler.

Sloppy fielding! Short of a length and on middle, Tashinga Musekiwa pulls it between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. Both fielders get in each other's way and make a mess of it. The batters decide for the third run very late but the throw is a wild one to the keeper and Raza gets home. A comedy of errors in the field.

Misses out there! Good length and down the leg side, slower again, Tashinga Musekiwa fails to hook it away as it brushes off his pads to the keeper.

Back of a length and on middle, slower too, Sikandar Raza swats it towards long on for a run.

Fuller and on middle, angling in, Sikandar Raza drills it dow the ground wide of long on and comes back for the second run. Good running!

Hard length and around off, Sikandar Raza steers it towards point for one more. Zimbabwe needs 27 runs in 18 balls and Raza will be key for them here.

Overpitched and on middle, Tashinga Musekiwa drills it wide of long on for one. The fielder fumble and Raza wants the second but is sent back.

Pitched up and on off, Sikandar Raza pushes it towards short covers.

FOUR! Poor delivery and rightly punished! Back of a length, outside of, slower too. Sikandar Raza picks it up early, waits for it and slaps it over extra covers for a boundary. A much-needed one for Zimbabwe and the 100 is up now as well.

Short of a length and outside off, Tashinga Musekiwa cuts it towards deep point for a run.

On a length and on middle, Sikandar Raza nudges it through square leg for a single. Zimbabwe needs 35 runs in 23 balls now!

A high full toss down the leg side, Sikandar Raza fails to swipe it away. Wided.

MAIDEN OVER! Yes, you read it right! A maiden is pretty rare in T20Is, but Sufiyan Muqeem has bowled it and Pakistan are slowly getting control of this game. Flighted, full and around off, Tashinga Musekiwa tries to drive but gets an outside edge along the ground towards short third.

Slower through the air, full and on off, turns further away, Tashinga Musekiwa leaves it thinking it will be a wide but is goes inside the tramline. Pressure building now!

Goes short and around off, gets extra bounce, Tashinga Musekiwa fails to cut it away. Four dots in a row now!

Flatter, short and on off, Tashinga Musekiwa tries to play but misses to get on the pads again.

Another googly, full and on middle,turns away with bounce this time, Tashinga Musekiwa fails to work it away and gets hit on the pads.

Beautifully bowled! A googly, tossed up, full and on middle, turns away sharply, Tashinga Musekiwa fails to pick it and gets beaten on the outside edge.

On a good length, on the stumps, Tashinga Musekiwa inside-edges it to square leg to retain strike.

Dragged length, on off, Tashinga Musekiwa rocks back and punches it to the off side.

Full and on off, blocked out to the off side.

Full again, on the stumps, driven to cover.

Full in length, drifting on the pads, Tashinga Musekiwa flicks it to mid-wicket.

Length ball, on the off stump, Raza cuts it to point to and steals a quick single.

OUT! RUN OUT! A terrible, terrible mix-up in the middle and Burl knows his fate. The third umpire, however, has been summoned to check it. Agha bowls a good-length delivery, on the off stump, Ryan Burl gets half stride out and drives it to cover. The fielder there fumbles, and Burl thinks to steal a single and is halfway through, but the fielder is quick to recover and throws it to the keeper's end to catch Burl short of his mark. The replays too, confirm the same. Burl is down on his haunches in disappointment as Zimbabwe slip down to 94/5.

Floated up, full and on off, Sikandar Raza gets on the front foot and drives it to long off for a single.

Drifting onto the pads, on a length, Ryan Burl nurdles it to short fine for a single.

FOUR! A welcome boundary for Zimbabwe! Salman Agha bowls a flatter one, full and outside off, Ryan Burl latches onto it and slashes it through backward point for a cracking boundary.

Nice and full, tossed up on off. Ryan Burl pushes it to the off side.

Slightly short and turning back into the batter, on middle, Sikandar Raza backs away and cuts it to cover-point for an easy single.

Length, angling on off, Ryan Burl gets forward and blocks it out. Zimbabwe need 46 runs in 42 balls remaining.

Slower one, on off and full in length, Sikandar Raza drags it off the inner half of the bat to wide of long on for a single.

Just too full and outside off, Burl gets forward and drives through covers for a single.

Good-length delivery, on the off stump, driven to covers.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Zimbabwe further slip down and Pakistan are back in the contest here! Abbas Afridi bowls an absolute ripper of a delivery, keeps the line of attack around off and lands it on a good length. It is that nip-backer that jags into the batter off the deck. Wessly Madhevere tries to block it away but is taken aback by the ball nipping into him. He fails to bring the bat down in time. Plays over the line and it zips past the inside edge and hits the top of the off-pole. Zimbabwe are 85/4 now.

Straight and full, at the stumps, Sikandar Raza clips it away along the ground for a single at wide deep square leg.

FOUR! Streaky but they will take it! Length-delivery, drifting across the off stump, Wessly Madhevere employs the paddle sweep but gets a top-edge and flies over the slips for a boundary at deep third.

Tossed up, full and on the stumps, Wessly Madhevere goes for a sweep but the ball flies off the top-edge and runs to the deep fine region. Two taken.

Length-delivery, on the off stump, Raza punches it away through cover-point for a single.

Full length, on the off stump, Raza pushes it to short cover.

Another googly, on middle and leg, full in length, Sikandar Raza fends it off the leading edge to the off side.

A bit of turn and bounce. A wrong'un, full and on off, Sikandar Raza presses forward to block but plays inside the line and it zips past the outside edge. A loud appeal for caught behind but the umpire is not interested.

Nice and full, on off, Wessly Madhevere drives it straight to the cover fielder. A very successful over for Pakistan. A wicket and just a couple of singles. Zimbabwe need 56 more runs to win from 54 balls remaining.

Bashes the hard length, around off, Wessly Madhevere punches it the cover-point region.

Fired on a fullish length, on middle, Sikandar Raza clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Good length, on the stumps, driven through point for a single.

Short and on off, Wessly Madhevere works it to point.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Pakistan is crawling back into the contest now! Abbas Afridi starts off from over the stumps, and lands it quite fuller on the middle and leg, Dion Myers swings with all his might to deposit it behind deep mid-wicket. He is a bit early through the shot on this pace-off ball and tries to hit it too hard and loses his shape a bit, hence, mistimes it in the air. It goes flat and straight towards Arafat Minhas stationed at deep mid-wicket.

Shorter in length and outside off, Sikandar Raza punches it wide of sweeper covers for a couple of runs.

Flighted, full and on leg, Sikandar Raza goes down for the sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads.

OUT! TAKEN! Sufiyan Muqeem strikes! The pressure was building and Pakistan gets a timely wicket. Muqeem has been outstanding in this series and once again gets a set batter out here. He drags his length back, on middle, Brian Bennett rocks back and tries to take on the bigger side. He pulls it away but it goes flat and in the air toward deep square leg. Tayyab Tahir is stationed well inside the ropes and leaps up to take a fine reverse cup catch. Bennett cannot believe it but he has to walk back after a fine knock of 43 off 35.

Flighted, full and around off, Dion Myers lofts it down the ground but on the bounce to long off for one.

Floated, full and on off, Brian Bennett eases it towards long off for a run.

Tossed up and around leg, dips in, Dion Myers uses his feet and yorks himself but manages to dig it out towards mid-wicket for a single.

Floated, full and on middle, Dion Myers looks to sweep it away but gets an inside edge through square leg for one more.

Goes back to his shorter length, on middle, Brian Bennett stays back and clips it through mid-wicket for one.

BEATEN! Flighted, full and around off, turns away, Brian Bennett goes chasing after it but gets beaten on the outside edge. Three dots in a row now!

Flatter, short and on middle, skids through, Brian Bennett gets a bit hurried and stabs it to the off side.

Short again and on off, Brian Bennett punches it to short covers.

Short and on middle, Dion Myers moves back and heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Another short delivery, on off, Dion Myers stabs it through covers for one.

A direct hit from the deep and it looks close! This is floated, full and on middle, Dion Myers goes down to sweep it away towards deep square leg and turns back for the second run. The fielder in the deep picks it up and scores a direct hit at the batter's end. However, the replay shows that Myers is safe!

Another googly, full and on off, turns away, Dion Myers stays back in his crease to guide it away but misses.

Short again and on off, Brian Bennett punches it through covers for a single. He moves to 41 in not time.

Great effort in the deep! Geos short and around off, Brian Bennett moves back and cuts it hard and wide of deep point. Abbas Afridi runs to his right and slides in to make a fine one-handed stop. Two runs taken.

In the air..safe! Sufiyan Muqeem begins with a googly, full and on off, turns away, Dion Myers goes down for the sweep but gets a top edge. However, it lands well in front of the incoming deep mid-wicket fielder. A single is taken.

Tossed up, full and on off, Brian Bennett drills it straight to short covers.

Flighted, full and on off, Dion Myers drives it towards long off for one. The fielder fumbles a bit but no harm down.

Slower through the air, short and on off, grips and turns away sharply, Dion Myers backs away and just about manages to dab it down to point.

Flatter, short and on around off, Brian Bennett forces it down to long off for another run.

Floated, full and on middle, Dion Myers looks to push it away but gets an inside edge through mid-wicket for a run.

Quicker, short and on off, Brian Bennett punches it to sweeper covers for a single.

Goes short and on middle, Brian Bennett stays back and flicks it through square leg for one. Zimbabwe are 56/1 at the end of the Powerplay!

FOUR! Nicely played! Flighted, full and on middle, Brian Bennett goes down to get inside the line of it and nails the sweep to the vacant deep square leg fence for a boundary.

Fires one full, on middle, Dion Myers drills it to long on for a single.

Quicker, short and around off, Dion Myers misses his cut again as the ball skids through to the keeper.

A big shout for LBW, but turned down! Floated, full and on middle and off, Dion Myers goes down to sweep it away but misses to get hit on the pads. It looks close but maybe the impact was outside off.

Flatter, short and on leg, angling in, Dion Myers backs away to cut it but misses.

Full in length, and at the stumps. Myers slogs at it but the short mid-wicket dives to his right and keeps it to just one.

Length ball, on the stumps. Bennett nudges it to mid-wicket for a run.

SIX! Handsomely lofted away! Arafat Minhas flights it up, full and on off, Brian Bennett takes a good stride ahead and lifts it inside-out over covers for a six.

Some encouraging turn there. Flat and on off, turns away, Brian Bennett fends it to the cover region.

Dragged length, on off, cut away but straight to the point fielder.

Arafat Minhas begins his spell from around the stumps. Full and around off. Bennett drives back at the bowler.

Quite full, on the stumps, Brian Bennett works it to long on for a single.

Tossed up, full, around off. Bennett sweeps it straight to square leg.

Full and at the stumps. Bennett eases it back to the bowler.

Back of a length and on the stumps. Myers pulls along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a run.

OUT! TAKEN! A sharp catch there by Sahibzada Farhan and Pakistan get their first breakthrough! Salman Agha continues from around the stumps, and lands a good-length delivery, drifting on the middle stump. Tadiwanashe Marumani goes on the back foot and tries to nudge it across but fails to keep it down. Goes through the shot and hits it flat with soft hands to the square leg region. Farhan, at square leg dives forward and takes a sharp catch.

FOUR! What a brilliant execution! Salman Agha begins his spell with a full ball, on the stumps, Tadiwanashe Marumani reverse sweeps it through the cover-point region, finds the gap and it races away for a boundary.

Nice and full, on middle, Brian Bennett gently pushes it back to the bowler. 19 runs off this over. Zimbabwe need 97 runs in 102 balls remaining.

FOUR! Zimbabwe are off to a flier here! Mohammad Hasnain bashes the hard length, on middle and leg, Brian Bennett transfers the weight on the back foot and pulls it to the vacant deep mid-wicket region for a cracking boundary.

FOUR! SHOT! Back of a length, just outside off, Brian Bennett weighs on the back foot and executes the square cut through backward point. Jahandad Khan at deep backward runs to his right and instead of diving, he tries to kick the ball off but fails to do so. It runs away to the fence.

FOUR! Guided away! This is some ordinary bowling from Hasnain! Errs in line, good length, Brian Bennett guides the ball by using the pace and gets a boundary at deep fine.

Fraction fuller on off, Brian Bennett strides across on the front foot and drives it firmly to beat the diving cover fielder to his right. The ball rolls through the mid off gap and is chased down by the fielder before the ropes. Two taken.

WIDE! He will have to reload that one again! Way down leg, on a length. Brian Bennett lets it be. Wided.

FOUR! What a top shot! Mohammad Hasnain goes pace on, fires it on a fullish length, outside off, Brian Bennett drives it on the up and cracks it through the diving point fielder for a boundary.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Marumani! This is on a good length, just outside off, Tadiwanashe Marumani backs a bit away from the line and plays it with an angled bat to slash it through the cover-point for a boundary. A solid start for Zimbabwe. 12 off the second over.

FOUR! Smashed down the ground! Jahandad Khan serves a full ball, almost a half-volley on off, Tadiwanashe Marumani clears his front leg and thumps it down the ground for a cracking boundary. It went like a tracer-bullet to the fence.

Fires in a full ball, angling in, Brian Bennett goes for a drive but inside edges it to wide of mid-wicket for a quick single.

Full and around off. Bennett drives off the toe-end to cover.

IN THE AIR...DROPPED! Mohammad Hasnain lets his team down as he shells a genuine sitter! Full and outside off, Tadiwanashe Marumani swings to go over covers again but gets a thick outside edge that flies flat and straight to deep third. Mohammad Hasnain tries to settle the ball in his by squatting at it, but it goes in and out of the palms. A single taken.

Jahandad Khan gets some gentle outswing, full and outside off, Tadiwanashe Marumani takes a good stride ahead and lofts it over covers for a couple of runs to get off the mark.

A dot to finish the first over. Length, on off, Brian Bennett punches it firmly to cover. Zimbabwe are 5/0, needing 128 more runs to win.

WIDE! Sprays it down leg. Brian Bennett misses to flick and the umpire calls for a Wide.

Straight and full, on off, driven firmly, but straight to mid off.

Another appeal for LBW but the umpire shakes his head in denial. Hasnain pitches it a bit fuller and on middle, angling to the leg stump. Brian Bennett falls over and misses to work it across. The ball pings his front pad. Possible going down leg.

An appeal for LBW, but 'No' says the umpire. Might just be a tad bit over the stumps. Hasnain bowls a length ball, on middle, Brian Bennett is hurried to tuck it across and plays over the line. Gets rapped high on the thigh pad.

Much better from Hasnain! Length ball, on middle, Brian Bennett blocks it out watchfully.

FOUR! Top shot to get things underway! Mohammad Hasnain bowls a genuine loosener first up. Short and on middle, Brian Bennett stands tall and pulls it along the ground to deep square leg for a cracking boundary.