Zimbabwe beat Pakistan in thrilling super over

The visitors made 278 runs for the loss of six wickets.

RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Zimbabwe completed the one-day international series with a dramatic super-over win against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the third and final ODI.

Having taken five wickets (5-49) during the quota of 50 overs, the pacer restricted Pakistan to just two runs in the Super Over, taking both the Pakistani wickets, which made the chase a cakewalk for his side. 

The actual match finished in a tie after Pakistan number ten Musa Khan cracked the final delivery of the 50th over from Richard Ngarava for a boundary to level the scores at 278.

In the Super Over, man-of-the-match Muzarabani dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah for two runs on four balls. Zimbabwe scored off just three balls, without any loss. Despite the defeat Pakistan won the three-match series 2-1.

Azam, who made a run-a-ball 125 with 13 boundaries and a six, led Pakistan s fightback and stood firm after Pakistan were set a daunting 279-run target.

He added a match-turning 100 for the seventh wicket with Wahab Riaz, who made 52.

With 28 needed, Riaz holed out off Muzarabani to leave the fight to Azam.

Azam, who hit a six off the first ball of Muzarabani s 49th over for a six, was caught behind off the last ball of the same over.

Pakistan needed 13 off the last over and five off the final delivery, whoch Musa hit for a boundary to tie the game. Musa scored nine not out.

The series gives Pakistan 20 points and Zimbabwe ten in the One-Day Super League, the qualification process for 2023 World Cup in India.

Zimbabwe s total of 278-6 was built around a fighting unbeaten 118 by Sean Williams who helped his team recover from paceman Mohammad Hasnain s best figures of 5-26.

The win broke Zimbabwe s sequence of ten consecutive defeats and gave them only their fifth win over Pakistan in 62 ODIs.

Zimbabwe s pace trio of Muzarabani, Ngarava (2-62) and Donald Tiripano (2-39) left Pakistan staring at defeat with the score at 6-151.

Debutant Khushdil scored 33 and added 63 for the sixth wicket with Azam.

Playing first, Zimbabwe set a target of 279 runs after winning the toss and deciding to bat first. The visitors made 278 runs for the loss of six wickets.

Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams scored an unbeaten century (118 off 135) while Brendan Taylor registered 56 off 68. Pakistan’s Mohammad Hasnain picked up five wickets. 

It was 20-year-old paceman Hasnain who shook the tourists by removing Zimbabwe skipper Chamu Chibhabha (nought), Craig Ervine (one) and Brian Chari (nine) in his first four overs of hostile fast bowling. 

Williams added an invaluable 84 runs for the fourth wicket with Brendon Taylor (56) and another 75 for the fifth with Wesley Madhevere (33) to stage a fightback. Dropped thrice on 73, 75 and 81, Williams finally reached his hundred with a couple off paceman Wahab Riaz, to the jubilation of the Zimbabwe dressing room.

Taylor hit eight boundaries before falling to a miscued cut off Hasnain. Hasnain, who had five wickets in his first five matches, had Madhevere caught off his own bowling to improve on his previous best of 2-52 against Australia in Dubai last year.

Williams and Sikander Raza -- who made a 36-ball 45 -- cut loose in the final overs, piling on 46 in the last five overs. The two teams now play three Twenty20 internationals on November 7, 8 and 10, all in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Haider Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Wahab Riaz, Musa Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Shaheen Afridi

Zimbabwe: Chamu Chibhabha (capt), Brian Chari, Donald Tiripano, Tendai Chisoro, Craig Ervine, Wessley Madhevere, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Rashid Riaz (PAK)

TV umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)

Match referee: Mohammad Javed (PAK)