The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
HISTORY was made last Friday when Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the second Twenty20 International at Harare Sports Club in what was the first time this had happened in the shortest format of cricket.
Pakistan had won the 15 previous meetings between the two teams before Zimbabwe recorded that shock victory last Friday. It was a win that even attracted the attention of the highest office in the land, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa taking to Twitter to congratulate the Zimbabwean lads, who on Friday were led by stand-in skipper Brendan Taylor.
“What a performance from the Chevrons! Congratulations to @ZimCricketv on a historic win today #ZIMvPAK,’’ tweeted President Mnangagwa.
All-rounder Luke Jongwe, who until last Wednesday had last tasted international action as far back as January 2016 was the architect of the win with four wickets for 18 runs in 3.5 overs. Jongwe removed the menacing duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam earlier on before he got rid of Haris Rauf as well as Arshad Iqbal in the last over to give Zimbabwe a momentous win.
Jongwe is a massively talented lad who broke into the national team at the age of 19 after impressive displays for Tuskers on the domestic front. Off the field shenanigans, which included breaking a team curfew on the day he made his international debut against South Africa in 2014 saw Jongwe overlooked for selection for years.
This is the man who took five wickets for just six runs from 5.1 overs in a One Day International against Afghanistan in January 2016, a match Zimbabwe won by 117 runs. He certainly has the talent and if the 26-year old can avoid the distractions of the past, his place in the national team is guaranteed for years to come.
Earlier on, Zimbabwe had seemingly staggered to 118/9 in 20 overs after they lost the toss and were asked to bat.
The highest run scorer for the home team was Tinashe Kamunhukamwe with 34 off 40 balls.
With Pakistan skipper Azam the second highest ranked batsmen in T20I, it was a foregone conclusion that the visitors would not break a sweat in chasing such a target. Jongwe bowled with such tenacity to remove Rizwan for 13 and Azam for 41, the belief was there for Zimbabwe.
Fellow seamers, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava were also magnificent with ball in hand, so was leg spinner Ryan Burl. While Muzarabani and Ngarava had one wicket apiece, they were economical, which was crucial defending such a low total. Burl picked up the wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez, the other batsmen who could have won the match for the visitors had they not been dealt with early.
On Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s fielding was poor as they dropped Rizwan on 13 and he went on to punish them with an unbeaten 82 in a contest Pakistan went on to win by 11 runs. Brilliant fielding on Friday saw Danish Aziz, the second highest run scorer for Pakistan on the day run out for 22. Friday’s win left the series tied at 1-1 heading into today’s third and final T20I. whoever is victorious today gets to win the series.
The batting from both sides has been nothing to talk about with Rizwan the only batsmen from either side to notch up a half century. For Zimbabwe, the highest effort with the bat is the 34, made by Craig Ervine and Kamunhukamwe. From securing their first ever win over Pakistan, Zimbabwe are now on the verge of achieving their maiden T20I series victory over the Asians. — @Mdawini_29.
