BRISBANE (Web Desk) – Pakistan’s quarter-final hopes in ICC World Cup 2015 are alive with Sunday’s victory over Zimbabwe. The team managed to win this crucial Pool B match after losing to India and West Indies. Zimbabwe could not chase the target of 236 runs in Brisbane Cricket Ground where Wahab Riaz, Pakistan’s top pacer, helped the team with his bat as well and was declared player of the match.
Zimbabwe struggled to score 215 runs when its all batsmen returned to pavilion in 50th over. Wahab Riaz and Muhammad Irfan picked four wickets each whereas Zimbabwe’s B Taylor and E Chingumbura scored 50 and 35 runs, respectively.
Afridi was the most expensive bowler who failed to pick a single wicket against 53 runs in his ten over bowling spell.
Earlier, when Pakistan chose to bat first after winning the toss, Captain Misbah ul Haq’s calm-headed 73 and Wahab Riaz’s unbeaten 54 took Pakistan’s total to 235-7 against Zimbabwe.
The team lost its first two wickets in early four overs. Next in line Shahid Afridi gave away his wicket on a zero. Captain Misbah, Wahab, Umar Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood all helped Pakistan post 235 on the scoreboard. TL Chatara and Sean Williams picked three and two wickets, respectively.
Pakistan had dropped Younis Khan to include Rahat Ali in the playing eleven today. Pakistan has moved up to sixth position at the points table of Poll B, where India tops with six points. Pakistan met humiliating defeats against India and West Indies in the first two matches of the mega event.
