Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, 1st ODI at Harare, , Aug 27 2013 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
1st ODI, Harare, August 27, 2013, Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe
(48.2/50 ov, T:245) 246/3

Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
85 (104)
hamilton-masakadza
New
ZIM
Full commentary

Hamilton Masakadza is the Man of the Match: "I knew that the wicket was going to get better in the afternoon. The pitch was better to bat on after the first 10 overs and we just wanted to start well and build a partnership. We were just one down when Taylor came out so there weren't really any nerves at that time."

That's all from us, we couldn't bring the entire presentation to you because of technical issues. Join us back on Thursday for the second ODI as Zimbabwe will have their tails up with a 1-0 lead, till then it's goodbye and good luck from Vishal Dikshit, on behalf of Abhishek Purohit, Rohan Sharma and the scorer Gopi Rangarajan.

Sean Williams and Brendan Taylor walk back with their heads high towards the dressing room. This is a comprehensive win - by seven wickets and 10 balls to spare - after the Zimbabwe batsmen didn't handle the spinners very well in the T20s. And how they came back?! It was the opening stand of 107 and Hamilton Masakadza's 85 that kept them comfortable in the beginning and always in the hunt of this chase. Taylor at No.3 also held his nerve till the end and Williams sealed it for the hosts. This is the first time since 1998 that Zimbabwe have beaten Pakistan in an ODI. It's been nearly 15 long years since Neil Johnson's hundred led Zimbabwe to victory in Pakistan

Max: "Zim has come alive. Despite the unfavorable issues they have had to deal with. The have stepped up their game. Well done Taylor and the boys"

"Hi 5 to Zims from Pak. They thoroughly deserved this big win after outplaying Pak. You have won our hearts as well. Congrats." - Badar from Pakistan

48.2
6
Irfan to Williams, SIX runs

it's all over! Irfan pitched it up and Williams has smoked that in his favourite area - the cow corner for a six! Whattay way to finish the match, whattay way to start the series, whattay way to cheer the crowd!

48.1
Irfan to Williams, no run

length ball on off, defended to point and Williams is sent back for the single

Mohammad Irfan returns for his last over. Five more to win. Can it be finished in this over?

Pavan Sharath: "The best thing about Zimbabwe is that they never quit until the last ball is bowled or the last wicket is taken or the last run has been made!!! This is your day Zim ...go grab it!! Well played so far!!"

end of over 486 runs
ZIM: 240/3CRR: 5.00 RRR: 2.50
Brendan Taylor43 (59b 4x4)
Sean Williams33 (21b 4x4)
Saeed Ajmal 10-0-44-2
Junaid Khan 9-0-55-1
47.6
Ajmal to Taylor, no run

flighted on leg stump, pushed on the leg side

47.5
3
Ajmal to Williams, 3 runs

flighted and full outside off Williams reverse sweeps it very fine for three

Ibrahim: "Pakistan can win if they try their best"

47.4
1
Ajmal to Taylor, 1 run

flighted on the leg stump, turned away easily to square leg for a single

It's down to single digits now and 15 balls are left

47.3
1
Ajmal to Williams, 1 run

tossed up on middle, driven down to long-on

47.2
Ajmal to Williams, no run

tossed up on off, Williams comes down and drives it back to the bowler

47.1
1
Ajmal to Taylor, 1 run

tossed up on off, pushed towards point for a single

end of over 478 runs
ZIM: 234/3CRR: 4.97 RRR: 3.66
Brendan Taylor41 (56b 4x4)
Sean Williams29 (18b 4x4)
Junaid Khan 9-0-55-1
Saeed Ajmal 9-0-38-2
46.6
1
Junaid to Taylor, 1 run

short on leg, Taylor pulls awkwardly because of the bounce and it goes in the air but falls safely behind midwicket for a single

Taylor has faced just one ball in the last two overs

46.5
1
Junaid to Williams, 1 run

low full toss on the pads, driven down to long-on for a single

46.4
4
Junaid to Williams, FOUR runs

cracking shot! Short ball on the stumps and looks like Williams knew it was coming there, he smacked it to the midwicket boundary, nobody moved.

46.3
2
Junaid to Williams, 2 runs

half-volley this time and Williams cashes in by driving it to the left of long-on for a couple. Not a clean pick up by Nasir Jamshed in the deep

46.2
Junaid to Williams, no run

right in the block hole, Williams just plucks it out but not past the bowler

46.1
Junaid to Williams, no run

almost a yorker on the pads and Williams can't connect it while trying to turn it on leg

The crowd is on its feet. the music is playing loud and they are loving it

end of over 4611 runs
ZIM: 226/3CRR: 4.91 RRR: 4.75
Sean Williams22 (13b 3x4)
Brendan Taylor40 (55b 4x4)
Saeed Ajmal 9-0-38-2
Junaid Khan 8-0-47-1
45.6
1
Ajmal to Williams, 1 run

quick and full on off, driven down to long-off with ease for a single

45.5
Ajmal to Williams, no run

slower outside off, Williams waits for it and pushes it on the off side

45.4
4
Ajmal to Williams, FOUR runs

another four. Ajmal tossed it up a bit and Williams sweeps it from the middle of the bat to the square leg boundary for four

45.3
4
Ajmal to Williams, FOUR runs

length ball on the pads, Williams came down and just managed to get some bat to run it fine past Irfan at short fine leg for four. It's tilting towards Zimbabwe now

Hammad Ahmed: "Well, Zimbabwe enjoying home ground, home croud and home stumps advantage"

45.2
1
Ajmal to Taylor, 1 run

short and flat on middle, turned to short fine leg for a quick single

Ajmal round the wicket

45.1
1
Ajmal to Williams, 1 run

flighted on off, Williams leans forward and sweeps it on the leg side for a single

It's back to run a ball and Saeed Ajmal is back, too. He has two overs left. Can he pull it back for Pakistan.

"We are waiting for a tied match!!!" Where are you from, Jakir?