ends with a yorker that's just about dug out. Pakistan win by 24 runs, and take the series 2-1. This was a closer game than it appears at the end, but when it really counted, Pakistan coped with the pressure better. Lessons to be learned for Pakistan, and I'm sure lessons will have been learned by Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, 3rd T20I at Harare, ZIM v PAK, Apr 25 2021 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Babar Azam lifts the trophy, and that's it from us here. Thank you so much for joining us, and please do so again for the Test series, which begins on the 29th.
"It was a team effort," a relieved Babar Azam says. "Rizwan and I wanted to take it deep, and I thought we finished very well. When I went in to bat, the wicket looked better than the first two games. We were targeting 160 or so, but I want to give Zimbabwe credit, they played brilliantly in the first half of the innings. Our momentum continues. Whoever is in form is encouraged to finish games off."
"It was a very good series with a young side," Sean Williams says. We've got some talented young batsmen like Wesley Madhevere and a good group of bowlers. In the middle period, we had to attack the spinners more aggressively, but we're getting there. This is the first series against Pakistan for a number of the guys. Brilliant series, and we've done nothing but improve. We're really excited for the Test series now."
Mohammad Rizwan isn't far from the honours, winning the Player of the Series award. "The ball was coming onto the bat initially, but the ball kept stopping later on. We wanted to stay out there because we thought it was a hard wicket to get adjusted on. Babar and my plan was whoever hangs around has to stay there till the end."
The Player of the Match is Hasan Ali. His 4-18 beats out Rizwan's unbeaten 91. "It was the decider and it was an important match. I'm always happy when I perform well. The way their openers played was brilliant, but we felt we were in control if we got one wicket., The ball wasn't really coming on to the bat.
"I feel like I had a better chance if I took the bowlers on, so I did," a deflated Madhevere says. "I had a couple of chats with the coaches about how to start an innings and work my way through the overs. I also learn from players like Babar Azam, which helps me. It's a positive for me, but it's also frustrating. We're a young side and hopefully in the future we'll get ourselves across the line in these matches."
Usman Dewan: "Valiant effort from Zimbabweans. Almost took the series. Hopefully they can continue the rise and take confidence from this effort."
Or not! Zimbabwe's old man's stuttering innings comes to a premature end. It was a knee high full toss he would usually put away for a boundary, but this time he skies it to long on, where a smart catch is taken
trickled off the pads for one. Taylor looks like he'll face the final two deliveries
driven back down the ground for a single
Jongwe falls! No timing on that occasion, and with the boundary as big as it is, there was little chance he'd clear the ropes with that
gets down on one knee and tries to paddle it over Sarfaraz. Only gets a little edge, but it still beats the keeper and almost goes all the way. Two fielders were in pursuit, but they seem to have failed to stop the boundary. Four more for Zimbabwe, and the game's still mathematically alive
what a way to finish the spell. A slower ball; Taylor's shot was in a different time zone. The game's basically done by now, and Zimbabwe need five sixes in six deliveries to tie this
muscled into the deep for just a single
angling back in to the batsman, this is phenomenally good bowling from Hasan. They go up in unison once more for the lbw shout, but the umpire's unmoved
slower bouncer, once more, Taylor doesn't really read it
Williams doesn't really time it. The pace was taken off that delivery, it caught the bottom of his bat and Faheem Ashraf at deep midwicket had a fairly straightforward catch
Sohail Asghar: "Never give bowl to Haris when the game is going easy. i repeat, Never!"
low full toss, scooped towards fine leg. Babar waits for it to bounce, happy to let the single go
juicy full toss, Taylor misses out there. Just one to extra cover. A direct hit would have had him all ends up at the non-striker's end
with square leg up, Taylor deposits it to that boundary. Lots of wrist involved in that stroke. Taylor's finally getting his eye in, though it might be too late now
another slower ball, but this time Williams went through his shot way too early. Leading edge to long-on
clever shot, that. It was a slower length ball. Williams moves across and with a flick of the wrist, finds the gap past short fine leg
off stump yorker length once more. Zimbabwe only manage a single down the ground
furiously quick yorker, only just dug out by Williams
Suman: "Rather surprisingly, the senior have let down the Zimbabwe team. Heartbreak for fans."
finally finds the gap, does Taylor. Set himself up by clearing the front leg and targets the short boundary around cow corner. Eight off that over, which, again, wouldn't remotely bother Pakistan
does him with the extra pace. Taylor's not really got going, and that's hurting Zimbabwe. Never really knew where that was going, and the heave was wild
Nabeel Rasheed: "Zimbabwe needs a Jadeja here."