WATCH: Pakistan’s biggest ENEMY is the last over; see how Brad Evans’ hard length balls agonized Men in Green in the final over
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Zimbabwe defeat Pakistan by 1 run
From the two games Babar Azam-led Pakistan have played, it’s not wrong to say the last over is the biggest enemy of the Men in Green. They have experienced two morale-slapping heartbreaks; first against India and then against Zimbabwe. It will remain fresh in the minds of the watchers how India gave agonies to their arch-rivals after snatching a thrilling victory, and the same story goes for Zimbabwe; Babar and Pakistani supporters could just stare and sink their chin into their palms.
It was Mohammed Nawaz again in the last over. But instead of bowling, he was on strike. Zimbabwean bowler Brad Evans kept bowling hard lengths when their opponent needed 11 runs to score in six balls. The result? Zimbabweans were on the ground, screaming with joy; they couldn’t believe what they just did.
Watch the last over between Zimbabwe and Pakistan:
Evans bowled three hard lengths in the last final four balls. But before, Pakistan did score some runs on fuller and slower deliveries, and Evan kept trying to bowl hard lengths. The fourth ball of the over was a seamer, the fifth, again a hard length and Nawaz could just push it, got dismissed and sunk to the ground as the reality of their defeat sunk in, and it really was.
The last ball was a fuller one and the new batter, Shaheen Shah Afridi could just shove it to the mid-on; but three runs were needed off the last ball. They ran hard but Sikandar Raza quickly collected the ball and threw it back to the wicketkeeper Regis Chakabwa who fumbled but still Shaheen had not covered half of the track. Chakabwa recovered and dislodged the bails.
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Last over drama: Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe by just 1 run
The 131-run target was too easy for one of the strongest teams in this World Cup. And it was against Zimbabwe, the no-so favorite contenders to win the Cup. But the unthinkable has already happened.
Babar Azam-led team kept losing regular wickets courtesy of Sikandar Raza. This star Zimbabwean was adjudged the Player of the Match who scalped three crucial wickets by conceding 25 runs. And who was behind Raza’s incredible energy on the field? Ricky Ponting.
“I know there was a small clip that was sent to me this morning and it was Ricky Ponting having a small word,” Raza told broadcasters after the win. “I was excited. I was nervous. I was thrilled about today. Motivation was always there, but if I needed that little push, I though that clip did a wonder this morning. So thank you very much Ricky as well,” he added.
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Gouri Das
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