Babar Azam's Pakistan have been beaten in yet another final-ball drama where Mohammad Nawaz has failed to finish the game. Perth witnessed a phenomenal final-ball thriller where Pakistan crumbled under pressure and failed to seal the win, falling short of the target by two runs.
Brad Evans became Zimbabwe’s hero in the final over as he showed nerves of steel to defend 11 runs. Nawaz miscalculated as he tried to go for big shots instead of guiding the ball into gaps when Pakistan needed three runs from last three balls.
Chasing 131, Pakistan openers failed again. Evans started off with the wicket of skipper Babar in the fourth over. Blessing Muzarabani used his Pakistan Super League (PSL) experience to get the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 14 runs from 16 deliveries. After the powerplay overs, Pakistan had just 28 runs on the board for the loss of two wickets.
Half-centurion of previous game, Iftikhar Ahmed (5) could not get going either and lost his wicket to Luke Jongwe. Shan Masood and Shadab Khan brought the run chase back on track. Shadab was working the ball well into the gaps. The six Shadab hit off Sikandar Raza brought the equation more in Pakistan's favour. However, Shadab (17) went for another big shot and paid the price for it. Raza ended the fourth-wicket partnership and followed it up with the wicket of Haider Ali as well.
Masood had more responsibility after two quick wickets. But Raza in his last over struck again to get rid of Masood. The southpaw scored 44 runs from 38 deliveries including three fours. The seventh-wicket partnership between Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr kept Pakistan in the game. Wasim Jr struggled initially but Nawaz got timely boundaries to keep Pakistan in the game.
In the last over, Pakistan needed 11 runs to win. Nawaz ran three runs off the first delivery as the ball went into the gap on the off side. Wasim Jr picked the slower delivery and hit it for a four. With three balls remaining, Pakistan needed three runs. Nawaz got beaten off the fourth delivery and hit the panic button. The left-handed batter went for the glory shot and got caught at mid off by Craig Ervine. In the end, his 18-ball 22 did not make a difference. Shaheen Afridi went for the big shot but could get just a single as Raza's throw caught him short of the crease. Zimbabwe won the game by the barest of margins to keep themselves alive in the semi-final race.
Earlier, Zimbabwe skipper Ervine won the toss and opted to bat first. Zimbabwe got off to a flyer as Wesley Madhevere and Ervine hit a few boundaries in powerplay overs. Haris Rauf got the breakthrough with the wicket of Ervine in the fifth over. The left-handed batter scored a run-a-ball 19 including two boundaries.
In the next over Madhevere's cameo came to an end. Before Wasim Jr got his wicket, Madhevere hit three boundaries in his 17-run knock. The run rate took a hit after openers departed. Shadab bowled well during fielding restrictions and got the wicket of Milton Shumba (8) in the 10th over. Meanwhile Sean Williams was anchoring the innings as Raza struggled on the other end. Shadab struck twice in the 14th over to get rid of Williams (31) and wicketkeeper-batter Regis Chakabva (0).
In the 15th over two more wickets feel on consecutive deliveries. Wasim Jr. got the wickets of Raza (9) and Jongwe (0). Zimbabwe were reduce to 95/7. The mini-partnership between Ryan Burl and Evans helped Zimbabwe post a total of 130/8. Evans contributed with 15-ball 19 before becoming Wasim Jr's fourth victim of the day. Burl remained not out for 10 off 15 deliveries whereas Ngarava contributed just three runs.
