Saim thrilled to have made full use of the wicket

ISLAMABAD: Saim Ayub attributed his 51-ball hundred to his persistent approach on a wicket comparatively easier than the one on which Pakistan lost the opening One-Dayer against Zimbabwe.

However, on Tuesday, Pakistan were seen dictating terms right from the start, galloping to an easy ten-wicket win to secure the series 1-1. Saim hit a powerful hundred, the third-fastest for Pakistan, as the tourists raced towards the target in the 20th over.

“All I planned to play was my neutral game where I succeeded. The wicket for the second One-Dayer was comparatively easier as the ball came to the wicket a little better, unlike the first One-Dyer where the ball didn’t come on the bat. I tried to play my neutral game where I succeeded,” said Saim, who hit his maiden ODI hundred.

He was all the more excited about the whole team’s performance. “We came back strong in the series, and that was the most important thing. It was a real all-round performance.” Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan also praised Saim’s innings and said the talent he possesses was no longer a secret.

“He played a quality knock and made the job easier for Pakistan. However, it was the bowling of Abrar Ahmed (4-33) and Salman Ali Agha (3-26) that helped Pakistan chase down a low total.” Pakistan took nine Zimbabwe wickets through the spinners, with Salman breaking the backbone of the top order. Abrar removed the lower order to bowl out the host nation for just 145 in the 33rd over.

“It was a thunderous victory, but it’s over as we are now totally focused on the next game on Thursday. We are more interested in repeating today’s performance in the third One-Dayer to take the series 2-1,” said Rizwan.

Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe’s captain was upset to take the wrong decision of opting to bat first. “I think we should have bowled first on a wicket that got easier later in the day. There was something for the bowlers earlier in the wicket, but as the match progressed the wicket got slower which made it easier for the batsmen to adjust.”

He was also unhappy with the batsmen for not applying properly to play the full quota of overs. “Our batsmen including myself could not rise to the target as they did not play the full quota. Some of the batsmen played reckless shots that proved to be the deciding factor.”

Ervine defended his decision to introduce spinners late. “The wicket had gone too slowly and that was the reason we didn’t open up with the spinners. I think fast bowlers could have got us a couple of wickets but it wasn’t possible because of the nature of the wicket which was easier for the batsmen as the match progressed.”