Chakabva fumbles the relay but still recovers in time to get the bails off at the striker's end to deny the game-tying run! Zimbabwe win by one run! Full on fifth stump, driven to long-on. The fielder is Raza who was standing 10 yards in to begin with to deny a second and the ploy works. Raza charges in and collects on the edge of the 30-yard circle fires a one-bounce throw to the striker's end - Wasim took an enormous head start at the non-striker's end so throwing to the bowler was futile - Chakabva fumbles in nervous fashion initially but recovers to pick the ball up and get the bails off with Shaheen's dive a yard short.
10.38 pm Raza tackles Evans with a hug that brings them both to the turf. Zimbabwe goes bonkers on the field and there's wild cheers from a strong Zimbabwean contingent in the stands. The Zimbabwean squad does a mini-lap of honor high-fiving the healthy contingent of fans who have come out to support them.
Player of the Match is Sikandar Raza: "I think I'm lost for words. My throat's dry, probably because of all the emotions. I can't tell you how proud I am of this bunch of boys. The way our seamers started at the top as well is just unbelievable and the way we backed it up in the field and the way we kept believing, I don't think there's any words I can share right now. [On wrist tapping signal to Craig Ervine] When we were coming to Australia, I said to my captain, 'If you become Man of the Match, pick any watch from the catalogue and I'll buy you. But if I win Man of the Match, then you're gonna buy me one. So I'm just reminding him that you now owe me three watches now actually. One more thing I thought. There was a small clip sent to me this morning of Ricky Ponting having a small word. I was excited, I was nervous, I was thrilled about today. The motivation was always there but if I needed a little push, I thought that clip did a wonder so thanks very much to Ricky as well."
So Raza takes 3 wickets and also is center stage with the final ball runout relay to secure a famous Zimbabwe win, very deserved winner of the Player of the Match award.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam: "Very disappointing performance in my team. We were not up to the mark in the batting. We had a bad first six overs, but Shadab and Shan built a partnership but unfortunately Shadab out and then back to back wickets and pressure built on the batting. First six overs we are not using the new ball good. Later on we finished well. We'll sit together and learn from our mistakes and come back hard next match."
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine: "It's so special. Especially for the work that we did to get into the Super 12s and we didn't want our tournament to end there. We wanted to come in and play some really good cricket against some top teams and I thought we did that exceptionally well today. I thought after our batting performance, we thought that we were maybe 20 or 25 short. But our seamers hit their straps early on and there was just a little bit more in the wicket compared to when we started off. Raza came to the party as he always does and picked up a few crucial wickets in the middle there. [On the promise about the watches to Raza] I think he's got three Man of the Matches so I'm gonna be broke by the time we get home. I just want to say thanks to the Zim support that came out today to support us. You guys really lift our spirits wherever we go so a special thanks."
Well, Pakistan's semi-final hopes are now hanging on by a thread. Zimbabwe meanwhile are suddenly in a promising position with three points from two matches and three left to play against Netherlands, Bangladesh and India. You never know...
That'll do it for our live coverage from today's tripleheader. On behalf of my commentary partner Andrew Miller, I'm Peter Della Penna. Take care!
Shaheen to face it.
Pakistan's win percentage was 98% before that delivery but still stands at 60% according to the ESPNcricinfo win predictor heading into the final ball now with 3 off 1 needed. Super over is on the cards as a possibility too.
length ball on fifth stump, Nawaz tries to muscles this over mid-off but skews it to the fielder on the ring! Basic catch reaching up at head height.
length ball on fourth stump, Nawaz backs away to cut and misses.
slower ball again lands back of a length this time on fifth stump, flat-batted over Evans with a leaping effort and it's stopped with a sliding effort at mid-off to keep it to one.
back of the hand slower ball doesn't fool Wasim one bit! Lands in the slot on off stump and Wasim pulverizes it flat over mid-off to the rope.
Pakistan win % has gone from 52 to 89% after that 3 on the first ball on the ESPNcricinfo win predictor.
half-volley on fifth stump, shovels a drive high and wide of mid-off and extra cover. It teases the fielders to the rope before being slapped back by Ervine. Evans went for yorker and got the length fractionally wrong, cost him significantly.
Pakistan currently with a 52% win probability according to the ESPNcricinfo win predictor heading into the final over needing 11 to win and Brad Evans taking the ball in hand coming around the wicket.
wide yorker on the wide guidelines, Wasim was anticipating it and shuffles way outside off to play at this with a helicopter whip but misses.
yorker on leg stump this time is directed properly and gets flicked to deep midwicket for one.
Zimbabwe has gone from 71% win probability to 34% after that six.
momentum-shifting six! Misfires the yorker and it becomes a full toss on the hips. Nawaz punishes this flicking it high and deep off the facade of the mezzanine level at deep fine leg.
Ketan: "Love how Cricinfo keep adding awesome features time to time. Earlier loved this dark mode and just noticed the win probability chart :)" Zimbabwe is currently at 71%.
full on off, miscues a heave towards long-on and lands well short of the boundary rider. The batting pair hares for a second and the relay to Ngarava at the bowler's end is a fraction late before he can get the bails off. A direct hit had Wasim out.
bouncer on fourth stump, Nawaz goes to uppercut this and misses.
attempted yorker on middle, flicked to deep square leg and sharp running by the pair turns this into a sharp two after a weak relay from Shumba.
Karthik V: "Cricket is beautiful!!" Life is beautiful. So says my Italian brother from another mother Roberto Benigni.
slower ball lands on a good length on fourth stump, swings wildly at this while backing away from leg stump and misses.
slower ball lands on a good length on fifth stump, tapped behind point for one.
Tushar Srivasta: "Come on Zimbabwe, you got this. No loose balls plz!!!!" Never thought I'd see a Jayson Williams book reference in a cricket comment...
slower ball lands back of a length on middle, pushes at this and is way out in front before it passes for a dot.
slower ball handcuffs Wasim after landing full on middle, checks his shot and the ball up off the bat into vacant square leg for a nervy single.
bouncer on middle, goes to pull and a thick top edge sails over the keeper Chakabva to the rope.
good length ball on the stumps, tapped gently square for one.
Mojo Jojom: "Nawaz to be the hero today! You heard it first here." That would be something of a death overs juxtaposition after the events of last match.
length ball on seventh stump, wild heave by Wasim sends nothing but a stiff breeze toward long-on.
geerthiraman: "Whether it's ODI or T20I - Low scoring matches are always the best. Can't take my eyes of this. Just WOW.."
yorker on leg stump, misses a flick and the ball caroms behind square leg for an extra.
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
Perth Stadium | |
Toss | Zimbabwe, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2022/23 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match number | T20I no. 1849 |
Match days | 27 October 2022 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Zimbabwe 2, Pakistan 0 |
Over 20 • PAK 129/8