ZIM vs PAK: Top five performers from Pakistan’s thumping Test series win over Zimbabwe
Continuing their clinical show in the second Test, Pakistan clinched the two-Test series 2-0 against Zimbabwe, finishing their South Africa tour with all series won. Having won the first Test by an innings and 116 runs, they won the second by an innings and 147 runs to clean sweep their opponents. Here are the top performers of the series –
5. Regis Chakabva (Zimbabwe)
#2ndTest | Day 3: FIFTY! Regis Chakabva registers his fifth Test 5️⃣0️⃣ off 7⃣2⃣ deliveries! ?#ZIMvPAK | #OsakaBatteries | #ServisTyresTestSeries | #VisitZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/ipTqDCoHvf
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) May 9, 2021
There was hardly anything that went Zimbabwe’s way, who were completely outplayed in all four innings they batted. With their highest total in the series being 232, it is evident how much the batters struggled. Although, the only host batter who was able to leave some good impressions was Regis Chakabva, who fought hard as his team followed on in the second Test and got 80 off 137. His final tally read 146 runs from 4 innings at 48.66, meanwhile, he was impressive behind the wickets too.
4. Azhar Ali (Pakistan)
Abid Ali’s partner in crime, Azhar Ali, had immense pressure to perform in the series after questions over his spot in the Test team. Responding in style, he averaged 81 in the series, scoring 162 runs in 2 innings, which included a solid 126-run knock in the second Test, where he was involved in a double-century partnership (236 from 450 balls) alongside Abid Ali.
3. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
Shaheen Afridi was not far behind his pace partner Hasan Ali. Afridi bagged a fifer in the second innings of the second Test and ensured to wrap things up quickly to take his team to a clean sweep victory. He scalped 10 wickets in the series at an average of 16.40 and strike rate of 36.1, finishing as the second-leading wicket-taker.
2. Abid Ali (Pakistan)
Fell seven times but stood up at the eighth one. If you have determination and hardwork, you will get the desired result.
Alhumdulillah glad to score big 200 against Zimbabwe.
Special thanks to Skipper, Misbah Bhai, Younis Bhai, Yousaf bhai and all those who believed in me. pic.twitter.com/SwDJLJOpp3
— Abid Ali (@AbidAli_Real) May 10, 2021
Abid finished the series with 275 runs with one century and a half-century. His sensational unbeaten double century in the second Test set the platform for Pakistan to set up a giant first-innings total, which eventually proved way beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. Ali smacked 39 fours in the series, the most for any batter on either side and bagged the Player of the Match award for his marathon 215 in the second Test.
1. Hasan Ali (Pakistan)
☝️ 14 wickets, including two five-fors
? Leading wicket-taker in the seriesHasan Ali was adjudged as the Player of the Series for the #PAKvZIM Tests ? pic.twitter.com/VnF1y7mtGU
— ICC (@ICC) May 10, 2021
Continuing his staggering form in the whites, Hasan Ali bagged the Player of the Series award for scalping 14 wickets at a sensational average and strike rate of 8.92 and 21.5. His fifer in the first Test demolished Zimbabwe, while he pushed them into a corner in the second Test again, claiming 5/27 that played a crucial role in enforcing the follow-on upon them. Meanwhile, in the first Test, he claimed a nine-wicket haul (9/89) and was adjudged the Player of the Match.
