When Donald Tiripano comes in to bat at No. 7, the indication that the talent pool is drying up isn't all that far-fetched. A Zimbabwean side stretched to their limit by the absences in their squad - which seem to be mounting by the match - cobbled together a gritty innings, setting Pakistan 195 to win in Bulawayo. It's unlikely to be enough, but really, what more could they have done?
On a bitterly cold day in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe decided to bat first, Hamilton Masakadza having realised his team wasn't all that likely to fare well in another chase after what had happened on Friday. They found themselves on the back foot instantly, mustering just three runs and losing a wicket in the first four overs, the ever-impressive Usman Khan doing Brian Chari in with an outswinging delivery he edged behind. Fellow opener Chamu Chibhabha also fell to the left-arm fast bowler, attempting to cut a ball too close to his body and under-edging to the keeper.
With the dismally out-of-form skipper Masakadza lumbering up to the crease, it looked like a grey day for Zimbabwe in more ways than one. But with Tarisai Musakanda, he put together a partnership that heralded the brightest phase of play in the entire innings, with the pair picking up the pace and forcing Pakistan onto the back foot for the best part of an hour.
Masakadza was particularly effective, not looking slow with his footwork as he has for much of the past two weeks, getting to the pitch of the ball and finding the middle consistently. Zimbabwe began to rotate the strike regularly and find the boundary often enough, pushing the run rate up from under 3 to over 4 runs per over. But they needed to kick on and convert the stand into one that shaped the entire innings, and that is exactly what Zimbabwe just weren't good enough to do.
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