Kamran Ghulam’s maiden ODI ton helped Pakistan to beat Zimbabwe by 99 runs as they came from behind to win the third and final match of their series in Bulawayo.
It was the second consecutive ODI Series in which Pakistan have made a comeback to win 2-1, having defeated Australia in similar fashion earlier this month.
Pakistan ran up a total of 303-6, having got off to a strong start as opener Abdullah Rafique made his fifth half-century off 68 balls before Ghulam's 103 from 99 deliveries put the tourists in the ascendency.
Zimbabwe’s bowling attack left much to be desired as Pakistan were able to plunder 69 runs from the last five overs, leaving the Chevrons with an uphill task of claiming an unlikely victory.
Pakistan’s bowlers were in far better form as, aside from Craig Ervine's half-century, Zimbabwe struggled to find a rhythm at the crease, with Brian Bennett (37) the only other batter to make it past 30 runs.
Saim Ayub (2-29), Abrar Ahmed (2-45), Haris Rauf (2-45), and Aamir Jamal (2-19) did much of the damage, limiting Zimbabwe to just 204 runs in their chase as their innings finished with just under 10 overs remaining.
Data Debrief – Unwanted milestone for Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe have become the fifth team to record 400 losses in men’s ODI history, joining Sri Lanka (453), India (445), Pakistan (430) and the West Indies (415) to surpass that total.
They have also won only one of their last eight matches in the format (L7), an 80-run victory against Pakistan in the first game of this series (24 November 2024).
Pakistan, on the other hand, have now won four of their last five men’s ODIs away from home (L1). It’s more than they won across their eight such fixtures prior to that span (W2 L6).
CWI launches innovative player development program in Tasmania
In a groundbreaking initiative to develop the next generation of West Indies Women’s cricket stars, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has launched a new player development program in Tasmania, Australia.
Four promising Under-25 players — Jannillea Glasgow, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shawnisha Hector, and Kate Wilmott — are currently honing their skills in the region’s premier cricket competition, marking a significant step forward in women’s cricket development.
The program, conceived by West Indies Women’s Head Coach Shane Deitz and Assistant Coach Damien Wright, has been integrating young talents into Tasmania’s premier first-grade cricket competition.
Glasgow and Wilmott represent New Town Cricket Club, while Fraser and Hector represent Clarence Cricket Club. Fraser also appeared for Clarence in the men’s third-grade competition, while Wilmott took a wicket for New Town in a match against North Hobart.
In New Town’s seven-run win over Clarence in a women’s T20 game, Glasgow scored an unbeaten 70, while Hector remained not out on 66 for Clarence.
The initiative also provides an opportunity for these emerging cricketers to train alongside professional athletes, including members of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) Hurricanes team.
“This is a wonderful initiative that combines high-performance training with valuable match experience. Our players are getting extensive batting time and taking on leadership roles, which is crucial for their development. They’re training four to five times a week, using world-class facilities and gaining exposure to different playing conditions,” said Assistant coach Wright, who is accompanying the players in Hobart.
“It’s been a great opportunity for the girls to open the batting and play in the high to middle order. They are being called upon to score runs, face the new ball, and perform with the ball as well. There are a lot of positives, and hopefully, it can continue,” he added.
The comprehensive program includes bi-weekly training sessions with the WBBL Hobart Hurricanes, regular gym work at premier facilities, including Ninja Stadium, formerly known as Bellerive Oval, and participation in both T20 and 50-over formats of the game.
This initiative is strategically timed, with players preparing for international commitments in India this December and a home series against Bangladesh in January.
Cricket Tasmania has played a pivotal role in facilitating the initiative, further demonstrating Cricket West Indies’ commitment to innovative player development and strengthening international cricket relationships.
This initiative could pave the way for future development and expand opportunities for more Caribbean players to gain valuable experience in Australian conditions.
Jansen's seven-wicket haul hands Sri Lanka lowest-ever Test total
Marco Jansen’s seven-wicket haul put South Africa 281 runs ahead on the second day of their test in Durban as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 42, their lowest Test total.
It was a day Sri Lanka will want to forget as 19 wickets fell, and they had their second-shortest innings, facing just 83 balls.
South Africa started the day on 80-4 and while getting off to a slow start, going 117-7 after 15 overs, Temba Bavuma’s 70-run total helped them to close the first innings with a total of 191.
The South Africa bowling attack then picked up the mantel with Jansen providing the standout performance. He achieved an economy of 1.9 in just under seven overs, taking seven wickets and conceding only 13 runs.
Kagiso Rabada (1-10) and Gerald Coetzee (2-18) also played their part in limiting a tepid Sri Lankan batting line-up, which saw Kamindu Mendis (13) and Lahiru Kumara (10) the only players to reach double figures for Sri Lanka, while five of their batters were out for a duck.
It took just under 14 overs until South Africa were back at the crease for their second innings, where opener Aiden Markram (47) fell just short of reaching a half-century.
They ended the day with Bavuma (24) and Tristan Stubbs (17) back in to bat, with their partnership of 43 so far representing the second-highest of the match. They will start day three on 132-3.
Data Debrief: Jansen destructive in pace attack
The 41 balls Jansen bowled during the innings is the joint-fewest in history to take seven wickets.
His first wicket took his total to 50 for South Africa in men’s Tests. He’s taken at least one wicket in 12 of his 13 Test bowling innings in South Africa.
He also put South Africa well on their way to back-to-back wins in men’s Tests at Kingsmead for the first time since January 2008, following their 220-run victory against Bangladesh in their last match at the venue (April 2022).
Seven wicket haul for Jansen gives Sri Lanka lowest Test total
Marco Jansen’s seven-wicket haul put South Africa 281 runs ahead on the second day of their test in Durban as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 42, their lowest Test total.
It was a day Sri Lanka will want to forget as 19 wickets fell, and they had their second-shortest innings, facing just 83 balls.
South Africa started the day on 80-4 and while getting off to a slow start, going 117-7 after 15 overs, Temba Bavuma’s 70-run total helped them to close the first innings with a total of 191.
The South Africa bowling attack then picked up the mantel with Jansen providing the standout performance. He achieved an economy of 1.9 in just under seven overs, taking seven wickets and conceding only 13 runs.
Kagiso Rabada (1-10) and Gerald Coetzee (2-18) also played their part in limiting a tepid Sri Lankan batting line-up, which saw Kamindu Mendis (13) and Lahiru Kumara (10) the only players to reach double figures for Sri Lanka, while five of their batters were out for a duck.
It took just under 14 overs until South Africa were back at the crease for their second innings, where opener Aiden Markram (47) fell just short of reaching a half-century.
They ended the day with Bavuma (24) and Tristan Stubbs (17) back in to bat, with their partnership of 43 so far representing the second-highest of the match. They will start day three on 132-3.
Data Debrief: Jansen destructive in pace attack
The 41 balls Jansen bowled during the innings is the joint-fewest in history to take seven wickets.
His first wicket took his total to 50 for South Africa in men’s Tests. He’s taken at least one wicket in 12 of his 13 Test bowling innings in South Africa.
He also put South Africa well on their way to back-to-back wins in men’s Tests at Kingsmead for the first time since January 2008, following their 220-run victory against Bangladesh in their last match at the venue (April 2022).
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