Pakistan came from behind, after suffering two back-to-back defeats, to beat minnows Zimbabwe by 20-runs in a close encounter match 23 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday. Mohammad Irfan‘s four for 26 did the damage for the Zimbabweans where as Misbah-ul-Haq‘s healthy 73 that was enough for Pakistan to register their opening victory of the tournament. Live updates: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe were off to a slow and shaky start as openers Chamu Chibhabha and and Sikandar Raza looked to preserve wicket for playing good in the later stage, but suffered their first setback at the score of 14 in fifth over, when Chabhabha was dismissed for mere nine off Irfan after being caught by Haris Sohail. With just eight added to the total, it was Raza who too departed in a similar fashion off the same man, as the score read 22 for the loss two. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
However, it was followed by a good 52-run stand between Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor, before Masakadza fell to Irfan again after going for an ambitious shot and comfortably to be taken by Misbah. Out came Zimbabwe’s in-form batsman, Sean Williams and along with Taylor put up another 54-run stand. Taylor also brought up his 32nd ODI half-century before departing for the same score in the 30th over off Wahab Riaz. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
With just 22 added to the total, it was the big wicket of Williams that was claimed by Rahat Ali, who made him caught by Ahmed Shehzad. Irfan was brought back and with just 16 added to the total, Solomon Mire departed for mere eight and was followed by another couple of quick wickets by Riaz in the form of Craig Ervine and Tawanda Mupariwa for 14 and duck respectively as the score read 168 for the loss of eight. Top 10 fielders in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Out came the pair of Elton Chigumbura and Tinashe Panyangara, who looked to take Zimbabwe home with a fine victory over the former world champions by causing an upset, but a maiden over from Shahid Afridi during the 47th over did the damage and were unable to cope up with the pressure of scoring 34 from 18. Panyangara was run out in the final over for 10 as out came Tendai Chatara, but was too late as he was the final man to be dismissed for a duck and Zimbabwe were bundled for 215, thus handing Pakistan a win by 20 runs. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
Man of the Match: Wahab Riaz (Pakistan)
Brief Scores:
Pakistan: 235 for 7 in 50 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 73, Wahab Riaz 54; Tendai Chatara 3 for 35) vs Zimbabwe 215 in 49.4 overs (Brendan Taylor 50; Mohammad Irfan 4 for 34) by 20 runs.
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