ICC Men’s World Cup Super League, 3rd ODI, Zimbabwe VS Pakistan Played at Rawalpindi on 3 November 2020 
Brief Scorecard: Zimbabwe 278 /6 (Sean Williams 118, BRM Taylor 56, Sikandar Raza 45, W Madhvere 33, Mohammad Hasnain 5/26 ) Tied With Pakistan 278/9 ( Babar Azam 125 , Wahab Riaz 52, B Muzarambani 5/49)
Zimbabwe Won In The Super Over 
Player Of The Match: B Muzarambani 

Zimbabwe did not deserve losing the way they played the 3rd and the last match of the ICC Men’s World Cup Super League match after losing the series already. Pakistan riding on yet another brilliant century (125) of vintage Babar Azam Pakistan managed to tie with Zimbabwe scoring 278/9 . Zimbabwe scored 278/6 batting first. Then in the super over Pakistan scored nothing losing two wickets and Zimbabwe won deservedly. Pakistan won the series 2-1. Great that Zimbabwe made their mark in the ICC Men’s World Cup super league. 

Batting first they looked like getting melted being reduced 3/22 by the 8th over. This time it was youngster Mohammad Hasnain who rocked them removing BB Cheri, CJ Chibandha and CR Irvine. From there on two senior citizens in the side BRM Taylor and Sean Williams rescued the team from disaster putting together 84 priceless runs. Hasnain returned in the second spell taking the wicket of Taylor (56) . Williams found another capable allay in Madhvere (33) for another 75 runs 5th wicket partnership. Again it was Hasnain to separate them. Williams went on producing one of his best innings of the career 118 not out. With Sikandar Raza in the 6th wicket he added yet another 96 for the 6th wicket. Zimbabwe looked beaming with confidence as they could still post an imposing 278/6 against strong Pakistan attack even after losing miserable at 3/22 early on. 

Pakistan chose this series as an occasion to give opportunity to some new players. They did not play any of their wicket leg spinners. Still their bowling attack was formidable with the presence of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Fahim Ashraf and Imad Wasim. In three ODIs three bowlers Shaheen Afridi, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Hasnain took 5 wickets.  But apart from Babar Azam and Imam ul Haq  Bangladesh batting struggled against Zimbabwe bowling.  On the other hand Zimbabwe bowlers improved match after match and their senior batsmen Taylor, Williams batted with application and purpose. They went down fighting in the first match. Only the second match was a bit one sided. Pakistan wrapping up the series looked a bit complacent for the third match. All rounders Fahim Ashraf and Imad Wasim were rested.

Zimbabwe started disastrously against raw pace of Mohammad Hasnain. Pakistan seems to have a great fountain of fast bowlers. Hasnain in no time made the tourists struggle grabbing back-to-back three wickets reducing them to 3/22. Two quality batsmen Taylor and Williams took over. Zimbabwe from there on managed three very productive partnership (84 between Taylor and Williams for the 4th,  , 75 between Williams and Madhvere for the 5th and 96 between Williams and Sikandar Raza for the 6th). None but Hasnain could leave any impression on the vastly improved Zimbabwe batsmen as they posted a very impressive 278/6 in their allotted overs. Williams scored a brilliant 118.

Muzarambani and Ngarva struck deadly blows when Pakistan started their chase. Ima-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman , Haidar Ali and Rizwan perished making Pakistan struggle at 4/51 by the 12th over. Only vintage Babar Azam looked solid. He kept on playing quality strokes. Even Iftikhar and Khushdil could not give company for a long time. At 6/ 151 in the 31st over Zimbabwe started dreaming for a win. But Babar Azam and Wahab Riaz at that point set up a desperate 7th wicket partnership of 100 taking Pakistan closer to victory target. But after Wahab, Shaheen and Babar getting out by the 49th over left the last pair requiring 13 for the win in the last over. Musa and Hasnain managed 12 and could tie the score. Muzarambani impressed taking 5/49. D Tirpano took 2/39 and Ngarva2/ 62. 

However, Zimabawe keeping their cool won the match in the super over as Pakistan could score nothing losing two wickets and the tourist rallied home. Pakistan still won the series 2-1. Zimbabwe earned useful first points in ICC ODI Championship Super League.  The improvement of tourist bowling and batting with each match was noticeable. Pakistan also had some great preparation for their very busy end of 2020 and early 2021 international engagements. 

BDST: 1230 HRS, NOV 04, 2020
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