Imad Wasim takes four wickets to help Pakistan beat Zimbabwe

Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim took career-best figures of four for 11 as Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 13 runs in the first Twenty20 worldwide at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday. However, Zimbabwe’s batting order indeed disappointed them, with some unfortunate run-outs adding to their misery.

Seamer Chamu Chibhabha was the pick of the home bowlers with three for 18, his best figures in Twenty20 internationals.

Pakistan will be looking to clinch while Zimbabwe level the series when the two sides meet in the second and final T20 global at Harare Sports Club, Harare on Tuesday.

“The two matches we play against them will be an excellent opportunity for my players and team officials and we plan to use them as a launch pad for the T20 World Cup”. But Pakistan bowled tightly and the hosts were in all sorts of problems from the first over when Imad Wasim claimed the first wicket after beating Chibhabha for nought. A long-term captain of the Pakistan Under-19 side, he has also led Islamabad in both first-class and limited-overs cricket, and captained sides in the PCB Patron’s Trophy.

Zimbabwe has been thorough in its preparations and judging from the way they faired in nearly all of the four matches during their May tour of Pakistan, they have a good chance against the tourists.

Pakistan have faced a spate of fitness problems with their players since a year ago with its bowlers causing headache for the national selectors.

Pakistan and Zimbabwe have faced each other in 80 matches all-time in all formats but only seven times in the souped-up T20 format – and Pakistan has won all seven of those contests. He took the chase to the last over with 16 runs required, which ultimately proved to be a wee bit much with just two wickets in hand.

The T20 series will be followed by three one-day internationals. “We will just try to make use of our conditions to our advantage”, said Chigumbura, Zimbabwe Independent reported.

While the likes of Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Akmal were in the runs in Sri Lanka in July, Afridi has endured a lull with the bat which he will seek to get over.

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (c), Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Hamilton Masakadza, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Graeme Cremer, Tinashe Panyangara, Neville Madziva, Chris Mpofu, Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Prosper Utseya, Luke Jongwe.