Winners, Losers from Zimbabwe's Shock Win over Pakistan

It was a result that not many predicted but some had warned of: Zimbabwe thrashing Pakistan in the opening ODI by a whopping margin of seven wickets.

The win wasn’t all that shocking. The tourists had failed to make regular inroads into the hosts’ batting lineup in the Twenty20 series. Although the results had gone Pakistan’s way, Zimbabwe more than stood tall in the twin losses as far as their batting was concerned.

Pakistan’s approach with the bat—and a playing-XI that blared confusion and even complacency—told another sorry tale. But putting their tame start and fluffed chances aside, Zimbabwe’s ability to withstand the touring spinners and the growing pressure, while defying critics’ predictions ahead of the match, culminated in the side’s first win over Pakistan in 15 years.

Zimbabwe Openers: Winners

After starts of 53 and 50 in the Twenty20 series, albeit with controlled aggression considering it was the crash-and-bang format of the game, Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza were faced with the sternest test of the tour thus far.

The target wasn’t huge but the opposition’s bowling attack—an enviable mixture of left-arm pace and right-arm spin—demanded utter respect with a small matter of 676 wickets among them. The respect was duly shown, but it seemed a mutual thing: with plenty of loose deliveries on offer, Masakadza and Sibanda went about their way happily in pursuit.

The demons of the spin web were cast aside neatly as well and, although not a huge number of boundaries were hit, the constant flow of singles and doubles ensured the asking-rate was kept in check throughout. Masakadza—who captained Zimbabwe when the team toured Pakistan in 2008—ended with an authoritative 85, perhaps a sign of things to come in the remaining two ODIs. 

Pakistan’s Approach: Loser

The tourists went into the match with just five bowlers (two of them are neatly classified as allrounders).

The plan was to win the toss and bat Zimbabwe into submission by posting a total in excess of 275. However, Pakistan’s inability to take regular wickets in the T20s had remained a concern and the playing XI, therefore, failed to carry the ideal mixture, especially when newcomers Haris Sohail and Umar Amin were treated as floaters.

The slow and cautious approach at the start had cost Pakistan heavily in recent months and with Zimbabwe bowlers not threatening the speed guns, a more proactive approach was needed from the tourists.

The openers started well but failed to get on with their innings and the collapse in the last 12 overs meant that Pakistan’s watchful start will have severe repercussions at the end. The tourists failed to score big despite a batsman-heavy lineup and once again, a change of strategy, and not personnel, is what Pakistan need.

Misbah-Ul-Haq: Winner

No matter how the team is faring, captain Misbah-ul-Haq just doesn’t seem to stop scoring.

He hasn’t scored an ODI century as yet in his 126 matches but, Misbah is this year’s highest scorer so far in the format and a whopping 10 half-centuries in his last 16 ODI innings. This not only illustrates the dark tone of his purple patch, but also Pakistan’s frailty at the top with Misbah coming in earlier than he had hoped and carrying the responsibility time and again.

He doesn’t hit many boundaries—Misbah does clear the field with utmost ease when he sets his mind to it—but gets his strike-rate closer to the three-figure mark towards the end of the innings. He has often threatened to cut loose and play a more aggressive game, perhaps giving in to the taunts.

But the top-order’s repeated failures put Misbah in a precarious position where he is unable to take risks.

Nasir Jamshed: Loser

What has happened to Nasir Jamshed?

Back-to-back centuries at the turn of the year and just two half-centuries in 16 ODI innings since then, Jamshed is not the same batsman who was going about ripping Indian bowlers to pieces just eight months ago. He is also not the same left-hander who thrashed the visiting Zimbabwe side to all parts in his maiden ODI series back in 2008.

He has managed to cross 20 11 times since the tour of India but just two half-centuries.  The timing, the silky drives, the flicked maximums and the sheer pleasure that he gives when in flow are key elements missing from his game as well.

The team management hasn’t really helped the cause by dropping him now and again but, aged just 23, Jamshed has the time—on and off the pitch—to ensure he gets the rhythm back and starts scoring again.

Brendan Taylor: Winner

Brendan Taylor failed to show up when Zimbabwe needed him during the T20 series.

He failed to contribute much with the bat and questionable field placements and batting order meant that Zimbabwe were not able to pull off the upsets they had hoped to.

The opening ODI was a different story, a welcome boost and a timely reminder to the hosts. It was Zimbabwe’s 100th ODI at the venue and it ended in a major upset, one that the captain termed "awesome," that ended the team’s 15-year-old wait.

Taylor walked in at the back of a century opening partnership. The target wasn’t a daunting task but collapses and the hosts’ inability to seal off results have dented their hopes time and again in the past. With Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Shahid Afridi holding the ball, the tourists had what it took to not just put their foot in the door but rip it right off its hinges and dash Zimbabwe’s hopes once again.

It was then that Taylor took over and ensured he stayed in the middle till the end, an unbeaten 43 to his name after a grueling 101-minute stay.