Zimbabwe A wallop Pakistan A

Zimbabwe A – 297 for 5 in 50 overs (Tarisai Musakanda 99*, Malcolm Waller 72, Sikandar Raza 50*; Ehsan Adil 2/53)

Pakistan A – 192 all out in 43.1 overs (Sohaib Maqsood 56, Umar Amin 32; Tendai Chisoro 4/36, Sikandar Raza 3/49)

Zimbabwe A won by 105 runs

After their humiliating defeat by 188 runs on Wednesday, Zimbabwe A showed magnificent form to turn the tables completely on the touring Pakistan A team and won the third match by 105 runs at Harare Sports Club on Friday to keep the test series alive.

By Tendai Chisiri

 Again Tarisai Musakanda played a superb innings for the team, just failing to reach a century after batting for all but one over of the team innings, and he was given excellent support by Malcolm Waller and Sikandar Raza.

 Then in the field Tendai Chisoro took four wickets for 36, Sikandar Raza three for 49, while Tendai Chatara’s one for 19 off 7.1 overs played an important part.

 The weather was again very warm and settled, and the pitch virtually a batsman’s paradise, so Pakistan A had no good reason to put Zimbabwe A in to bat on winning the toss, unless it is simply that they prefer to chase.

 After their heavy defeat on Wednesday, Zimbabwe A decided to call up the experienced Elton Chigumbura to their side, and also played Sikandar Raza and Victor Nyauchi in place of Richmond Mutumbami, Neville Madziva and Tapiwa Mufudza, while the Pakistanis again played an unchanged eleven.

 While celebrating an outstanding victory, Zimbabweans must not let their guards down.The fourth match of the series takes place at the same venue on Monday, and Pakistan A are a fine team who are practically certain to come back fighting very strongly.