 After the grand competition in the first ODI, the expectation from the Zimbabwe
cricket team soared a lot higher because they really gave a good challenge to
the reshaped Pakistan cricket team in the match.
However, they failed to fulfil the expectation as they were beaten by ten wickets
at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
Click for Live Score Card of Zimbabwe Vs Pakistan
Replying to their 225/6, Pakistan got home without losing any wicket while
Mohammad Hafeez scored unbeaten 139 runs and his fellow opener Imran Farhat
contributed unbeaten 75 runs to lead Pakistan to a 2-0 lead and winning the
ODI series with one ODI to spare.
The third and final ODI between Zimbabwe and Pakistan will be played
at Harare Sports Club on September 14 at 7:00 GMT. Pakistan have already won
the series leading 2-0 with one ODI match to spare, so they will not be in pressure;
on the other hand, Zimbabwe will be in lot of pressure to avoid the whitewash
embarrassment at home.
Pakistan have no problem with their team combination as each and every player
is performing really well. They have formed a very new team for the series which
is almost finished and till now they have been very successful throughout the
series without sacrificing even a single defeat in the tournament.
Their batsmen like Hafeez, Farhat, captain Misbah ul Haq, Younis Khan
and bowlers Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, and the newcomer Aizaz Cheema have all
been extremely phenomenal, showing the world that Pakistan is still on right
track when it comes to cricket.
On the other hand, Zimbabwe have played reasonably good; especially when one
looks at their batsmen. Their skipper Brendan Taylor will be trying his
best to perform once again for his country after two successive half-centuries.
Others like Masakada, Taibu, Sibanda, and Chigumbura have been good but at the
end it was not enough against team like Pakistan.
Prediction:
There is no doubt that Pakistan will look to get the better of Zimbabwe in
this match to win the series 3-0 but there is also a chance that they may look
to change things around to get some new guys into this game. Rameez Raja or Asad Shafiq could get a look-in.
On the other hand Zimbabwe will be playing for pride. They will be certainly trying
their best to win the last match of the ODI series to give something to their
awaiting cricket fans.
Pakistan will look for a clean sweep when they take on Zimbabwe in the third and
the final ODI.
Zimbabwe will look to ensure they can get going against Pakistan in the third
and final ODI.
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