One unhappy comeback
Plays of the day from the first Twenty20 international between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in Lahore
Mohammad Isam
22-May-2015
Fans packed the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and created a terrific buzz that boiled over when Mohammad Sami struck in the seventh over • Associated Press
The home advantage
International cricket was returning to Pakistan after six years so several Pakistan players were playing their first home game for their country. In fact, Zimbabwe had as many players in their XI who had played an international match in Pakistan, as Pakistan did. Vusi Sibanda, Tinashe Panyangara, Elton Chigumbura, Sean Williams, Chris Mpofu and Hamilton Masakadza had played in Pakistan in 2008. In this particular Pakistan line-up, six players were making their home debuts. Only Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami and Sarfraz Ahmed had played in Pakistan previously.
International cricket was returning to Pakistan after six years so several Pakistan players were playing their first home game for their country. In fact, Zimbabwe had as many players in their XI who had played an international match in Pakistan, as Pakistan did. Vusi Sibanda, Tinashe Panyangara, Elton Chigumbura, Sean Williams, Chris Mpofu and Hamilton Masakadza had played in Pakistan in 2008. In this particular Pakistan line-up, six players were making their home debuts. Only Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami and Sarfraz Ahmed had played in Pakistan previously.
The first cheer
The Gaddafi Stadium had been buzzing since 4.30 pm but the first tremendous roar took a while. Anwar Ali's first ball was cheered, and so was Mukhtar Ahmed's save in the third over, but Masakadza flurry of boundaries kept them waiting for a wicket. In the seventh over, Vusi Sibanda top edged a bouncer from Mohammad Sami, and when the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed ran back to catch the top edge, the crowd turned up the volume several notches.
The Gaddafi Stadium had been buzzing since 4.30 pm but the first tremendous roar took a while. Anwar Ali's first ball was cheered, and so was Mukhtar Ahmed's save in the third over, but Masakadza flurry of boundaries kept them waiting for a wicket. In the seventh over, Vusi Sibanda top edged a bouncer from Mohammad Sami, and when the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed ran back to catch the top edge, the crowd turned up the volume several notches.
The mountain's touch
Hamilton Masakadza has been described as a man mountain and his strokeplay in the first six fitted that portrayal. He laid into the Pakistan pace bowlers but one of his seven boundaries came from a deft touch. He was moving outside leg stump, and though Wahab Riaz slowed his pace, Masakadza spotted the change and guided the ball past the wicketkeeper with a delicate opening of the face of the bat. The speed on the ball, however, was swift enough to beat a sprinting third man.
Hamilton Masakadza has been described as a man mountain and his strokeplay in the first six fitted that portrayal. He laid into the Pakistan pace bowlers but one of his seven boundaries came from a deft touch. He was moving outside leg stump, and though Wahab Riaz slowed his pace, Masakadza spotted the change and guided the ball past the wicketkeeper with a delicate opening of the face of the bat. The speed on the ball, however, was swift enough to beat a sprinting third man.
The unhappy return
Not everyone was having a happy comeback. Charles Coventry, who was playing his first game for Zimbabwe after nearly three years, started with a paddle sweep and a clout over cover off Shahid Afridi, but when Wahab Riaz bowled a bouncer at him, the ball touched his bicep before Sarfraz Ahmed dived acrobatically to complete the catch. Wahab appealed and kept running toward the wicketkeeper jubilantly while Coventry hung his head as umpire Ahsan Raza raised his finger. Replays confirmed it took the arm rather, and not bat or glove.
Not everyone was having a happy comeback. Charles Coventry, who was playing his first game for Zimbabwe after nearly three years, started with a paddle sweep and a clout over cover off Shahid Afridi, but when Wahab Riaz bowled a bouncer at him, the ball touched his bicep before Sarfraz Ahmed dived acrobatically to complete the catch. Wahab appealed and kept running toward the wicketkeeper jubilantly while Coventry hung his head as umpire Ahsan Raza raised his finger. Replays confirmed it took the arm rather, and not bat or glove.
The better comeback
Masakadza cut Sami past point and blazed him over mid-on. Those were the first two balls bowled by Pakistan's comeback man, who last played an international match in July 2012. His second over - the seventh of the game - was much improved and he removed both Zimbabwe openers off successive deliveries, before breaking the dangerous Sikandar Raza-Elton Chigumbura stand in the 17th over. Sami had returned to Pakistan cricket with 3 for 36.
Masakadza cut Sami past point and blazed him over mid-on. Those were the first two balls bowled by Pakistan's comeback man, who last played an international match in July 2012. His second over - the seventh of the game - was much improved and he removed both Zimbabwe openers off successive deliveries, before breaking the dangerous Sikandar Raza-Elton Chigumbura stand in the 17th over. Sami had returned to Pakistan cricket with 3 for 36.
The early onslaught
Mukhtar Ahmed did not let any opportunity go as the Zimbabwe bowlers served him one leg-stump half-volley after another. The biggest challenge for him was going to be Graeme Cremer's accurate legspin. Mukhtar creamed Cremer's first ball over long-off for a six to reach his maiden T20 fifty off 34 balls. Cremer got Mukhtar's wicket much later but Pakistan were on course for victory.
Mukhtar Ahmed did not let any opportunity go as the Zimbabwe bowlers served him one leg-stump half-volley after another. The biggest challenge for him was going to be Graeme Cremer's accurate legspin. Mukhtar creamed Cremer's first ball over long-off for a six to reach his maiden T20 fifty off 34 balls. Cremer got Mukhtar's wicket much later but Pakistan were on course for victory.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84