DHAKA: Pakistan are facing Zimbabwe bowling in the teams’ ICC Cricket World Cup Pool B match in Brisbane Cricket Ground of Woolloongabba in Brisbane Sunday morning.
Till filling this report, Pakistan scored 5 for two in 4.1 overs.
Nasir Jamshed began Pakistan’s innings with Ahmed Shehzad on another end of the crease.
Tinashe Panyangara bowled the first over followed by Tendai Chatara for the second over.
Zimbabwe started getting successes. Chatara made Jamshed early walk to the pavilion in his first over.
Haris Sohail came to the crease then, began accompanying Shehzad.
Chatara came to bowl, struck again, taking Shehzad’s wicket - another opener.
Sohail and Misbah-ul-Haq are batting now.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq tossed the coin, Zimbabwe captain Chigumbura called heads, and it was tails. Pakistan won and decided to bat first.
For Pakistan, Rahat Ali is in, replacing Yunis Khan. So, that is an extra fast bowler, which means Pakistan have four in all - Irfan, Sohail, Wahab and Rahat - of whom three are left-armers.
For Zimbabwe, Chamu Chibhabha, Solomon Mire and Tawanda Mupariwa are in. Regis Chakabva, Tafadzwa Kamungozi and Stuart Matsikenyeri are out.
However, neither team seems to think spin will be that big a factor in the match as both sides apparently keep their spinners aside.
Pakistan, who have been mauled by 76 runs by bitter-rivals India and suffered a 150-run rout at the hands of the West Indies, will look to get their first win to keep their quarter-final hopes alive against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, go into the game on the back of a four-wicket win over the UAE, a 62-run loss to South Africa and a 73-run defeat by the West Indies in a game where Chris Gayle made the first double century in World Cup history.
The African side have found it hard to restrict opposition batsmen -- West Indies feasted on their bowlers to the tune of 372 for two while South Africa helped themselves to 339 for four.
Pakistan haven't played since February 21 but despite the break, giving them plenty of time to chew over over their problems, they will be buoyed by knowing they traditionally hold the upper hand against Zimbabwe.
Pakistan hold a 4-0 head-to-head record against the African side in the World Cups.
Teams
Pakistan
Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal†, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan
Zimbabwe
Chamu Chibhabha, Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor†, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura*, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara
BDST: 1000 HRS, MAR 01, 2015
