By Asghar Ali Mubarak
RAWALPINDI: Zimbabwe won the final ODI — restricting Pakistan from a clean sweep — after beating the Green Shirts in the Super Over at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Having taken five wickets (5-49) during the quota of 50 overs, pacer Blessing Muzarabani restricted Pakistan to just two runs in the Super Over, taking both the Pakistani wickets within four balls, which made the chase a cakewalk for his side.
Earlier in the day, after winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Zimbabwe recovered from 22-3 to post a pretty decent 279-run target. Their innings was anchored by centurion Sean Williams (118) after it was wrecked by Mohammad Hasnain (5-26).
Pakistan’s run chase was doomed from the start and they were 51-4 and 88-5 at various stages but their captain Babar Azam (125) and Wahab Riaz (52) almost turned the game around before falling right at the death. In the end, it came down to Pakistan needing a last-ball boundary to force a Super Over – something Muhammad Musa Khan did, courtesy a misfielding.
Meanwhile, Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain had a day to remember on Tuesday during the Pakistan vs Zimbabwe third ODI here in the city.
The 20-year-old picked up five wickets for just 26 runs in his 10-over spell, wreaking havoc to the opponent’s top order. He picked up three wickets in his opening spell, which he shared with Shaheen Afridi.
Hasnain first sent Zimbabwe captain Chimu Chibhabha back to the pavilion, followed by Craig Ervine and Brian Chari.
