Zimbabwe shock Pakistan at World Cup

Pakistan’s World Cup hopes suffered further damage with a shock one-run defeat by Zimbabwe in Perth.

Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

An inspired performance from the Zimbabwean bowlers ensured Pakistan finished on 129-8, chasing 131 to win.

Shan Masood looked to be steering Pakistan out of trouble before he was stumped for 44 off spinner Sikandar Raza, who took 3-25.

It was Zimbabwe’s first ever win outside the first round of a men’s T20 World Cup.

“It’s so special, especially after the work we did to get into the Super 12s,” said Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine.

“We didn’t want our tournament to end there, we wanted to come in and play some really good cricket against some top teams and I think we did that exceptionally well today.”

Needing three to win from the final ball, Shaheen Afridi could only manage a single and was run out trying to come back for a second run which would have secured a tie.

Pakistan are now without a win after two games, with their first outing against India also ending in a tense defeat.

Virat Kohli hit a second successive unbeaten half century as India made it two from two with a comfortable 56-run victory over the Netherlands at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav also reached the 50-mark as India eased to a competitive 179 for two before restricting the Dutch to 123 for nine to move a point clear of South Africa at the top of Group Two.

Kohli’s 44-ball 62 featured only three fours and two sixes — the first when he went inside out over the covers to bring up his 50 — but was full of delightful touches and took his tally to 144 runs from the two matches.

Soiuth Africa scored a 104-run win over Bangladesh in Sydney with Rilee Rossouw scoring the first century of the tournament.

He built a partnership of 163 with Quinton de Kock to drive South Africa to 205 for five.

Paceman Anrich Nortje (4-10) took up where the batsmen let off with three top-order wickets, including that of dangerman Shakib Al Hasan for one, and Bangladesh were 66-5 after 10 overs and all out for 101 after 16.3.

-BBC/Reuters