Pakistan's bowling performance against Zimbabwe makes skipper Sarfraz unhappy

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets to reach the finals.

Sarfraz Ahmed | Source Getty

Pakistan captain, Sarfraz Ahmed is not happy with the bowlers despite beating Zimbabwe to reach final of the T20 tri-series. As Pakistan thrash Zimbabwe by 7 wickets, they will face Australia in the final stage of the tournament. Sarfraz Ahmed despite of winning the match was disappointed with the way bowlers bowled. 

As Pakistan conceded 162 runs in the first innings, Zimbabwean batting all-rounder Solomon Mire recorded Zimbabwe's highest individual score of 94 off 63 balls. The total was easily chased by the visitors led Fakhar Zaman (47)  Hussain Talat (44_  and an unbeaten knock by captain Sarfraz Ahmed (38) 

“I am not happy with the way my bowlers were bowling. It was not up to the mark. When our bowling was finished [with] 160 [it] looked like a good batting track,” Sarfraz said.

 “Our start was very good, two batsmen got into the 40s but did not finish the game. We have to tell them that if you score 40-50, then you have to finish the game. Big game tomorrow (against Australia) as we would try to take the winning momentum into the finals,” he said.

Solomon Mire was named the Player of the Match for his spectacular innings of 94 and one wicket that he took while bowling. When asked about his performance, the batting all-rounder said “It was a good day. The game plan was, as we had discussed in the last few games, to have one of the top three-four guys to stay on till the end and kick on to get a big score.

“I had an operation straight after after the [World Cup] qualifiers and have been struggling for seven or eight months. I am trying to bowl much more now and it felt much better today.” “I think the total was competitive. It always hurts in the end if you have a couple of misields or a couple of bad balls. It becomes a different chase."

The losing captain, Hamilton Masakadza was quite impressed with the way his boys played around in the match against Pakistan. He added “Definitely much better from the boys as they put up a much better fight,” Masakadza said.

“They bowled well at the death and [but] we ended 10 or 15 runs short. It adds up with maybe 10 or 15 we gave in the field as well.

“The guys did not operate well under pressure, there were few too many mistakes. It [fielding] is one of our best suits so hopefully we can get it together in the next game.”

Zimbabwe cricket still has one game left with Australia that will take place on Friday.

(Inputs from ICC)

 
 

By Kunal Kataria - 05 Jul, 2018

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