Good morning and welcomefrom Queens Sports Club here in Bulawayo
It's been a pretty rainy morning, with some strong showers followed
by what can only be described as 'heavy drizzle'
The toss is yet to be done, the table is fully covered and teams
are currently making their way back to the dressing rooms
It's puring down full tilt now, the start will definitely be
delayed
Ground Temperature is 18 degrees Celsius, humidity 94%
Please stay with us for further updates
The rain has lightened considerably, so much as to be negligible
A patch of blue sky has appeared over the North-West section of the
ground...the only problem is the dark grey clouds coming in from
the South
The covers are being peeled off slowly now, the rain seems to have
abated enough to allow play to start
The umpires are having a look, together with Zimbabwe captain Heath
Streak, who incidentally is still in training kit
We seem to have found a break in the cloud, sun's come out. Cloud
cover's clearing up slowly, although there are showers forecast
for later
Whatever happens, it looks like the toss is imminent and we are
going to get a game.
The Zimbabwe team have come out (in training kit), rugby ball in
tow. They start wandering towards the nets: no-one seems in any
great hurry
They seem to have dumped some moisture on the track while removing
the covers
The hessian is out at the City End crease, together with a great
big roller
Match State: Match start scheduled for 0845 GMT
The captains come out to toss, Waqar and Heath looking impatient,
and who would blame them
Pakistan captain Waqar Younis has won the toss and opted to have a
bat
Zimbabwe team: Dion Ebrahim, Craig Wishart, Andy Flower, Grant
Flower, Guy Whittall, Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Heath Streak,
Doug Marillier, Sean Ervine, Doug Hondo, 12th Man Henry Olonga
Pakistan team: Saeed Anwar, Saleem Elahi, Azhar Mahmood, Inzamam-
ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Mohammad Sami,
Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, 12th Man Shahid Afridi
The game has been reduced to 46 overs because of the rain delay
It's pretty clear and breezy now, still quite a bit of cloud about
We're about to get under way, Umpires Bowden and da Silva lead the
players out
Saeed Anwar and Saleem Elahi to open the batting, Zimbabwe captain
Heath Streak will deliver the first ball
0.1 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, over the wicket to the southpaw,
pitching middle and off, straightening a bit, parried
0.2 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, cutting across him to the off side,
half-drive to mid-off
0.3 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, too straight and played to square
leg, Elahi backing up too far and almost falls victim to
Whittall's throw
0.4 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, tapped midwicket
0.5 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, pitching just back of a length, gets
some wild reverse swing away from the proffered bat, good ball
0.6 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, straight, parried
End of over 1 (maiden) Pakistan 0/0 (RR: 0.00)
HH Streak 1-1-0-0 - City End
Saleem Elahi 0* (0b) Saeed Anwar 0* (6b)
Here we go again, the drizzle starts afresh, cutting across the
ground from South-East
1.1 Hondo to Saleem Elahi, FOUR, over-pitched outside off, lovely cover
drive through the gap, all the way to the rope
1.2 Hondo to Saleem Elahi, no run, parried in front of square on the
off side
1.3 Hondo to Saleem Elahi, OUT: gottim, pitching on off stump and
straightening, would have hit middle stump, plumb and Mr Bowden
agrees
Pakistan 4/1, Partnership of 4
Saleem Elahi lbw b Hondo 4 (3b 1x4 0x6)
Saeed Anwar 0* (6b) Douglas T Hondo 0.3-0-4-1
And the players go off after that, drizzle turning into a shower,
looks like this may happen all day
Match State: Delay - Rain interrupted play
The covers come back on, clouding over again, this has all the
marks of a real downpour starting
The rain has stopped again - for now - and the covers are being
peeled off - again
The players and Umpires come out - just as the rain starts again!
The match has been reduced to 44 overs now
Youhana is the next man in, and the drizzle also looking to have a
go
1.4 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, one run, outside off, edged down to third
man
1.5 Hondo to Saeed Anwar, one run, full and pitching on middle stump,
straightens and flicked behind square off hte pads
1.6 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, no run, parried to the off
End of over 2 (6 runs) Pakistan 6/1 (RR: 3.00)
Douglas T Hondo 1-0-6-1 - Airport End
Saeed Anwar 1* (7b) Yousuf Youhana 1* (2b)
2.1 Streak to Saeed Anwar, wide: no run, way outside off stump, got the
reverse swing he wanted, only pitched it far outside the line
2.1 Streak to Saeed Anwar, one run, short, tapped to the off, good soft
hands off the back foot there, scamper through for a single
2.2 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, no run, straight, no footwork, dabs the
willow at it
2.3 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, one run, outside the line, played away to
bwd point, Ebrahim gets a hand to it, saved four
2.4 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run
2.5 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, good ball, sending it both ways
today, pitches on mid and off, expects it back in but keeps
straight nad low, misses the edge
2.6 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run
End of over 3 (3 runs) Pakistan 9/1 (RR: 3.00)
HH Streak 2-1-3-0 (1w) - City End
Yousuf Youhana 2* (4b) Saeed Anwar 2* (11b)
3.1 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, one run, straight and back of a length,
played in front of square on the leg side
3.2 Hondo to Saeed Anwar, legbye: one run
3.3 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, no run
3.4 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, one run, wide outside, slashed through
gully, good limiting throw from third man
Runs up and just slows down at the crease
3.5 Hondo to Saeed Anwar, no run
3.6 Hondo to Saeed Anwar, one run
End of over 4 (4 runs) Pakistan 13/1 (RR: 3.25)
Douglas T Hondo 2-0-9-1 - Airport End
Saeed Anwar 3* (14b) Yousuf Youhana 4* (7b)
4.1 Streak to Saeed Anwar, two runs
4.2 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run
4.3 Streak to Saeed Anwar, FOUR, driven through covers
4.4 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run
4.5 Streak to Saeed Anwar, wide: no run
4.5 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run
4.6 Streak to Saeed Anwar, two runs, driven through cover
End of over 5 (9 runs) Pakistan 22/1 (RR: 4.40)
HH Streak 3-1-12-0 (2w) - City End
Yousuf Youhana 4* (8b) Saeed Anwar 11* (18b 1x4)
5.1 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, no run
5.2 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, no run
5.3 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, no run
5.4 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, no run
5.5 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, no run, straight, pushed away
5.6 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, one run, straying down leg, tapped to
short midwicket region, lazy single spoils the potential maiden
End of over 6 (1 run) Pakistan 23/1 (RR: 3.83)
Douglas T Hondo 3-0-10-1 - Airport End
Yousuf Youhana 5* (14b) Saeed Anwar 11* (18b 1x4)
6.1 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, no run, gets it to shave away a bit off
the seam, pushed away off the back foot
6.2 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, one run, good running, stolen single off
the block to mid-off
6.3 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, tapped away to leg
More rain about, still light enough to play in though
6.4 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, short, with a bit of extra bounce,
thought about shooting it over point but left it alone
Drizzle making things difficult here, Anwar steps away just at the
point of delivery
6.5 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, another shorter one, the rain seems
to be spicing up the pitch here, some bounce outside off, again
Anwar lets it fly
6.6 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, straighter, fuller, played with more
bat than the last two deliveries, tapped to leg
End of over 7 (1 run) Pakistan 24/1 (RR: 3.43)
HH Streak 4-1-13-0 (2w) - City End
Yousuf Youhana 6* (16b) Saeed Anwar 11* (22b 1x4)
7.1 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, one run, too straight, turned behind
square
7.2 Hondo to Saeed Anwar, SIX, bang, steps out and slaps him over extra
cover
7.3 Hondo to Saeed Anwar, no run, pitches full and straight, dabbed
away
7.4 Hondo to Saeed Anwar, no run
7.5 Hondo to Saeed Anwar, one run, plays it back through the line,
lifts just over the bowler's head, single to midoff
7.6 Hondo to Yousuf Youhana, FOUR, bang again, taking the cue,
overppitched and lofted over mid-off, two bounces and over
End of over 8 (12 runs) Pakistan 36/1 (RR: 4.50)
Douglas T Hondo 4-0-22-1 - Airport End
Saeed Anwar 18* (26b 1x4 1x6) Yousuf Youhana 11* (18b 1x4)
The rain has stopped - again
8.1 Streak to Saeed Anwar, one run, too straight and played behind
square, quick single, Hondo throws from 45 and just misses, he was
safe
8.2 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, no run
8.3 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, no run
8.4 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, one run, tapped to midwicket
8.5 Streak to Saeed Anwar, one run, turned behind square, Hondo at 45,
slide, pick and throw, textbook stuff
8.6 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, one run, full and seaming away a bit,
pushed to midoff
End of over 9 (4 runs) Pakistan 40/1 (RR: 4.44)
HH Streak 5-1-17-0 (2w) - City End
Yousuf Youhana 13* (22b 1x4) Saeed Anwar 20* (28b 1x4 1x6)
Sean Ervine will replace Hondo from the Airport end, sky darkening
over quite menacingly, as the light drizzle continues
9.1 Ervine to Yousuf Youhana, one run, punched to mid-off
Starting to come down again
And they're off - again - this time it looks like they won't be
back soon
The groundsmen scurry around trying to get the covers on quickly
enough, getting heavier now
It's really pouring down here at Queens, this brings a new level to
rain-affected; having trouble covering the pitch, lots of wind
down there
Pitch is getting good and wet as the wind blows the cover off, they
struggle to cover it properly
Please stay with us for further updates
Very heavy downpour, spectators scurry around looking for shelter
As suddenly as that shower started, so it abates
The rain has stopped, but there's lots of mopping to be done
All the covers are off now, stumps being brought back out
Fielders are out and warming up
Match State: Delay - Play will resume at 1105 GMT
The Umpires come out again, looks like we'll get a restart now
We've been brought down to 38 overs now
9.2 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, one run, pushed to mid-on
9.3 Ervine to Yousuf Youhana, three runs, wide outside the line,
cheppoed in front of square, Ebrahim chases and saves the boundary
9.4 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, two runs, on the pads, flicked uppishly
behind square on the leg side
9.5 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, two runs, CHANCE, fired in at leg stump,
plays towards square and lifts it just over short midwicket
9.6 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, one run, tapped to leg
End of over 10 (10 runs) Pakistan 50/1 (RR: 5.00)
SM Ervine 1-0-10-0 - Airport End
Saeed Anwar 26* (32b 1x4 1x6) Yousuf Youhana 17* (24b 1x4)
10.1 Streak to Saeed Anwar, FOUR, straight, half-pulled/flicked behind
square leg to the rope
10.2 Streak to Saeed Anwar, one run, bottom edge to gully, Taibu takes
the ball and shies at the sticks, hits, Youhana was well in
10.3 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, no run, seams it away outside off, a
little bounce coming off the track, beats the edge
10.4 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, no run, fuller, plays and misses as it
shies away and swings in the air, stays low to the keeper
10.5 Streak to Yousuf Youhana, OUT: gottim, he was asking for it there,
playing and missing everything outside the line, this time gets
the edge to the keeper
Pakistan 55/2, Partnership of 51
Yousuf Youhana c Taibu b Streak 17 (27b 1x4 0x6)
Saeed Anwar 31* (34b 2x4 1x6) HH Streak 5.5-1-22-1 (2w)
Inzamam comes out
10.6 Streak to Inzamam-ul-Haq, no run, seams away outside the line of
off-stump, sticking to that line, left alone
End of over 11 (5 runs) Pakistan 55/2 (RR: 5.00)
HH Streak 6-1-22-1 (2w) - City End
Saeed Anwar 31* (34b 2x4 1x6) Inzamam-ul-Haq 0* (1b)
11.1 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, no run, pitches just inside leg stump, plays
and misses, on the pads
11.2 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, no run, across the southpaw, bottom edge to
Wishart at slip
The crowd getting very excited and vocal here
11.3 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, FOUR, shorter, pulled nicely off the hip to
deep fine leg, top shot
11.4 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, three runs, swept high to deep midwicket, no
one out there, that's high, Streak saves four running from midon
11.5 Ervine to Inzamam-ul-Haq, no run, full, driven back to the bowler
11.6 Ervine to Inzamam-ul-Haq, legbye: FOUR, sliding down leg, fine leg
is up, off the pad to the rope very fine
End of over 12 (11 runs) Pakistan 66/2 (RR: 5.50)
SM Ervine 2-0-17-0 - Airport End
Saeed Anwar 38* (38b 3x4 1x6) Inzamam-ul-Haq 0* (3b)
Drizzle getting a little heavier now - again
12.1 Streak to Saeed Anwar, one run, sweeps and gets a top edge, hiiiigh
in the air, Ervine runs back and calls, should have it to Whittall
who was coming in, through the fingers, DROPPED
12.2 Streak to Inzamam-ul-Haq, no run, full, drilled straight to extra
cover
12.3 Streak to Inzamam-ul-Haq, one run, tapped to square leg
12.4 Streak to Saeed Anwar, no run, fired in at leg stump, pushed away
to leg
12.5 Streak to Saeed Anwar, legbye: one run, at the leg stump again, off
the pad fine
12.6 Streak to Inzamam-ul-Haq, one run
End of over 13 (4 runs) Pakistan 70/2 (RR: 5.38)
HH Streak 7-1-25-1 (2w) - City End
Inzamam-ul-Haq 2* (6b) Saeed Anwar 39* (41b 3x4 1x6)
13.1 Ervine to Inzamam-ul-Haq, one run, easy runs to mid-on, he's really
conceding them here - 8.5 off the first two over
13.2 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, one run
13.3 Ervine to Inzamam-ul-Haq, OUT: at the pads, flicks it high to deep
midwicket, safe hands out there, Whittall in on the run, takes it
onm the dive
Pakistan 72/3, Partnership of 17
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Whittall b Ervine 3 (8b 0x4 0x6)
Saeed Anwar 40* (42b 3x4 1x6) SM Ervine 2.3-0-19-1
And it's raining again, but they're still out there
Younis Khan in, but Anwar faces the next ball, the batsmen crossed
before the catch
13.4 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, no run
13.5 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, no run, gets a bit of bounce, makes to cut
and misses, taken by Taibu standing up
Rain coming down
13.6 Ervine to Saeed Anwar, bye: one run, off Taibu's gloves, looks to
have injured himself there
End of over 14 (3 runs) Pakistan 73/3 (RR: 5.21)
SM Ervine 3-0-19-1 - Airport End
Saeed Anwar 40* (45b 3x4 1x6) Younis Khan 0* (0b)
Match State: Delay - Rain interrupted play
They're off again, rain really taking charge of this game, covers
coming back out
The large covers are being removed again. The rain seems to have
abated for the moment
The covers are back on - it's, surprisingly, raining again. The
groundsmen run around to get the heavy things back out in the
middle, stumps sent back
Messrs Bowden and de Silva stroll back to shelter, it seems every
time they get back out there the heavens open up again
The captains are joing the umpires out there
The rain has stopped but the covers are still on
They're shaking hands, Waqar and Heath, that would be game over it
seems
We are still waiting for official confirmation but it looks like
the rain won the day
We have confirmation..the match has been abandoned. Zimbabwe are
through to the Super Six stage of this world cup without having
beaten a single Test nation
The Zimbabwe team come out and start their lap of honour to
rapturous applause from the partisan crowd here at Queens
Pakistan are out of the cup, disappointment registering on the
faces up in their dressing room
England also exit the tournament on the back of this result
The Zimbabwe team make their way slowly around the ground, the
crowd is loving this
Taibu and Streak lead the parade, holding the Zimbabwe flag aloft
So that's all from Queens: Zimbabwe are through, with 14 points
from their 6 matches. They join Australia and India, on 24 and 20
points respectively
England are fourth in the group with 12 points, and Pakistan take 2
from here and get their tally up to 10
Thank you for joining us here at Queens. From CricInfo in Bulawayo,
thank you and good day