and Pakistan are through to the quarter-finals, this is their first successful chase in World Cups since the 1999 semi-final against New Zealand, just outside off, Shafiq carves it past point for a boundary that brings up the victory
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, 33rd Match, Group A at Kandy, Mar 14 2011 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Not as dominating a performance as Pakistan would have liked perhaps, but they were rarely in trouble and cruised to victory.
Shafiq: "It always feels great when you play your first game and finish it like that. I know my game, I know my strengths. I like Mohammad Yousuf a lot, and I try to play like him."
Besides the win, some of the pluses for Pakistan are the decent innings from Mohammad Hafeez, and the mature knock from Asad Shafiq. Gul was outstanding with the ball again, and the rest of the bowling was tidy as well.
Presentation ceremony:
Chigumbura: " Again we lost too many wickets first up, from there it was tough to come back into the game, and the rain also made it hard for us to get some momentum. After this, we are going to go home and work on batting, especially in the first 10 overs. I thought Ervine played pretty well, I'm happy with the bowling also, the spinners with old ball bowled good lines."
Afridi: "I think the way we started, the way Gul and Razzaq they started very well, and then the spinners. I think the way Hafeez played, good to see him back, and Shafiq played an amazing knock, I tried to finish the game early but I'm sure I will perform with the bat as well."
Gul is the Man of the Match: "I'm back in my form and rhythm. I tried to bowl wicket to wicket, I looked at the pitch before the match, I was happy to bowl first. We are looking forward to the game against Australia, we have done our homework, we will do our best."
That's that from Pallekele then. Sahil Dutta has the match bulletin for you over here.
Thanks everyone for all the mails, do join us tomorrow for the South Africa-Ireland match tomorrow. Till then, from Liam Brickhill, and me Siddarth Ravindran, good night.
legcutter on middle and off, Shafiq forces into the covers for one more
short and wide outside off, he hangs back and cuts it to third man for a single
now a full toss outside off, Shafiq is timing them quite well but mid-off does well to run across and field the fluent off drive
over-pitched on off stump and punched crisply but straight to cover
again too straight, Younis eases it through midwicket for one more
dangled into the pads, dabbed away square for a single
Price continues to peg away, Younis reaches out on off stump and dabs to the off side
drifting into the pads, worked to the leg side of the pitch
short outside off, cuts it backward of point
shortish from Price, Younis shuffles across and tucks it towards midwicket
a slower ball outside off, defended towards point
lovely stop from Ervine after Shafiq slaps the ball towards cover, a great dive stops the ball but Ervine spoils that by giving away an overthrow
overpitched on middle, tucked towards deep midwicket for more runs
steered the ball towards third man, where a fumble gives away an extra run
that one just took off, astounding, Masakadza has got some deliveries to bounce sharply but that short ball was yards over the batsman's head, keeper had no chance either
shortish and on off, defended off the back foot towards the off side, Shafiq wanted one Younis didn't, Shafiq turns back
short of length from Masakadza, defended towards the leg side