Pakistan recorded a much-needed win over Zimbabwe at the Brisbane Cricket Ground on Sunday, thanks to towering paceman Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz's antics with the ball that helped Misbah-ul Haq's men record a 20-run victory in their World Cup tie.
Irfan ripped open the Zimbabwean batting line-up, claiming four crucial wickets, three of which included openers Chamu Chibhabha (9) and Sikandar Raza (8) and top-order batsman Hamilton Masakadza (29). He delivered impressive match-figures of .
Irfan was helped on the bowling end by paceman Wahab Riaz, who also scalped four wickets, to reduce the Zimbabwean attack as Elton Chigumbura's men tried to chase down Pakistan's respectable total of 235 runs.
Brendan Taylor was the only one to score a half-century for Zimbabwe, before he fell prey to Riaz's express delivery on his individual score of 50 runs.
Irfan and Riaz together limited Zimbabwe's attack with the bat as Chigumbura's men gave a fair chase to Pakistan's total. They were helped by paceman Rahat Ali, who also claimed a wicket.
Earlier, Pakistan had won the toss and opted to bat, posting 235-7 in their allotted 50 overs, after getting off to a stuttering start.
Pakistan's openers Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad fell cheaply for their individual score of one and a duck before Haris Sohail contributed 23 runs to the scoreline.
Skipper Misbah-ul Haq took the scoreline up with his steady knock of 73 runs that came of 121 balls. Wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal helped (33) him on the crease and together they put up a fourth-wicket partnership of 69 runs.
All-rounder Shahid Afridi failed to shine in the match, as he went for a duck and also failed to scalp a wicket in his 10-over spell. However, he delivered a maiden over and allowed only 53 runs to be scored during his spell.
Riaz also contribute with the bat and scored a half-century as he remained unbeaten on 54 runs, to take Pakistan's total to 235.
Pakistan's performance, however, was far from impressive in their World Cup tie against Zimbabwe, as, save for skipper Misbah and Riaz, none of their batsmen failed to impress with the bat. With a faltering opening and batsmen struggling to find a steady partnership in the middle, Pakistan didn't manage to put up a strong total.
However, the defence of their 235-run total was strong, with Riaz and Irfan limiting Zimbabwe's batting attack.
Riaz was named the Player of the Match for his antics with the bat and the ball. He said that the discussion with Misbah was to play all 50 overs and added that if they take chances, they would do that in the last three or four overs, and rotate the strike till then.
Riaz claimed that the team management are working really hard with him, and added that they believe he can do something with his batting.
