Worthy win for Zimbabwe Chevrons at last

Match tied (Zimbabwe won the Super Over)
ZIM - 278/6 (50)
PAK - 278/9 (50)
Player of the Match: Blessing Muzarabani
Player of the Series: Babar Azam

Zimbabwe fought well in the first and the second ODI, but the third ODI  at Rawalpindi bore fruits and brought immense pride to the boys in Pakistan. The Chevrons managed salvage a worthy consolation to the series. It was a really good cricket pitch looking fair as a battle ground for pride. It couldn't have been a better day for Zimbabwe who ended a 10-match losing streak by beating Pakistan in a super over to cap a thrilling third and final one-day international on Tuesday.

After winning the toss for the second time in the series, Chamu Chibhabha opted to bat first hoping to post a competitive score better than of the previous ODI. With Chari and Chamu opening the bat, the Chevrons started on a much slower pace losing the top three leaving Zimbabwe reeling at 22/3.

Hasnain was a treat to watch with the new ball and he had Zimbabwe three down inside 8 overs. Taylor and Williams hung around before Hasnain came back to get his fourth. Williams survived three dropped catches to score 118 off 135 balls for Zimbabwe. Madhevere and Raza gave him great support and it was a competitve 278 on the board.

Pakistan were off to an awful start losing wickets in a more similar fashion as the Chevron's. Muzarabani and Ngavara reduced them to 20/3, and then it was 88/5 with Donald Tiripano registering bowling figures of (7-0-39-2) during the second powerplay.

 Babar Azam was just Babar Azam. He batted so calmly like nothing happened at the other end. First he found good company in debutant Khushdil Shah and then a great hand from Riaz, with who he added 100 runs for the seventh wicket. Captain Babar Azam's run-a-ball 125 lifted Pakistan close to the target in a century stand with Wahab Riaz, who scored 52 off 55 balls. But Muzarabani's 5-49 included the wickets of Afridi and Babar off his last two deliveries to turn the game before Musa hit the last-ball ball boundary through covers off Richard Ngarava and forced a super over.

Muzarabani's brilliance in the penultimate over and the Super Over has won them the game. He did well to pick up his maiden fifer as well. Finishes the day with 7 wickets including the Super over. Both teams congratulate each other. Zimbabwe win the game but Pakistan win the seires 2-1.

"This win is huge for us," Williams said. "A lot of people do panic under pressure, but I feel we deserved to win … we are tired of getting beaten, it's way too long." Surely, the country had been through a lot of nerve wracking and bruising defeat ladened cricketing voyage which we believe will be the thing of the past soon. The win does not only bring smiles to the long faced Chevrons fans but will bring confidence and hope as the country grapple forward amidst a variety of challenges.

The 2-1 victory gave Pakistan 20 points in the World Super League while Zimbabwe earned 10 points. The top seven teams out of 13 nations participating in the league will get automatic qualification for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India