T20 WC 2022 | Zimbabwe cause major upset | Pakistan vs Zimbabwe

This World Cup has been filled with upsets. Namibia beat Sri Lanka, Scotland beat West Indies and Zimbabwe beat Pakistan. These upsets make the world cup more exciting, the points table more confusing and the semi-finals are up for grabs by any team. 

The match started with a bang when the two Zimbabwean openers, Madhevere and Ervine smashed Shaheen Afridi for 14 runs in the first over. The powerplay went well for Zimbabwe as managed to score 47 runs in exchange for two wickets.

It started going downhill from there for Zimbabwe. They couldn't play the spin of Shadab Khan and ended up losing 3 wickets for just 22 runs. Zimbabwe were at a spot for bother as the dot balls kept rising and the boundaries were becoming rare. A partnership was starting to build between Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams, but Shadab Khan put a stop to that, sending Williams to the pavilion for 31.

Four wickets from Mohammad Waseem and a stunning catch from Babar Azam restricted Zimbabwe to 130 in 20 overs. A chase that should have been a cakewalk for Pakistan, turned out to be the complete opposite.

Zimbabwe's all-rounder Brad Evans, playing his first match in the T20 World Cup, gets the big fish Babar Azam out for 4. Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava bowled tight lengths to the Pakistan batsman, not giving them any room to hit. Shortly after, Blessing Muzarabani gets Mohammad Rizwan out for 14. Both Pakistan openers have been sent to the pavilion and Zimbabwe have taken the driver's seat.

Pakistan's chase did not get any better as the hero of the first match Iftikhar Ahmed got out with the help of Luke Jongwe. Pakistan needed 77 of 60. Shadab Khan and Shan Masood had a partnership of 50 between them. However, it didn't last long as Sikandar Raza got the last laugh as he dismissed Shadab Khan and Shan Masood in back-to-back deliveries. Raza became the third bowler to be on a hat-trick in this match but couldn't get the hat-trick. 

Five overs were left and the equation was becoming more tighter with 38 runs to get from 30 balls. Naseem and Nawaz get going and get the equation to 22 from 12 deliveries. 11 runs go in the 18th over and Pakistan needs 11 from 6 balls. 

A 3, 4, and a single get Pakistan to 3 from 3 balls. A run-a-ball must be easy to chase, but Pakistan messes it all up when Mohammad Nawaz hits straight to mid-off. Pakistan needs 3 from 1 delivery. Shaheen Shah swings it to mid-on but couldn't complete the double.  

It happened, and the unexpected happened as Zimbabwe shocked the world and beat Pakistan! Pakistan are now in danger of not making it to the semi-finals. 

The scenario now for Pakistan to make it to the semis:

- Pakistan win their remaining matches with a big margin to maintain a healthy net run rate.

- South Africa should lose to India and Pakistan.

- Zimbabwe to lose their remaining with India, Netherlands, and Bangladesh.

- Bangladesh should lose at least one match

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Cover Credits: ESPNofficial