Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, WC 2015: Wahab, Irfan put Pakistan on the board

Brief Scores: Pakistan 235 for 7 (Misbah 73, Wahab 54*, Chatara 3-35) beat Zimbabwe 215 (Taylor 50, Irfan 4-30, Wahab 4-45) by 20 runs BRISBANE (Web Desk) - It was difficult to decide what was more brutal: the giant that is Mohammad Irfan stretching the Zimbabwe batsmen's every sinew of resolve, the grimacing of Elton Chigumbura every time he took a step, no doubt ripping his torn quadricep up a little more, or the gulf between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, which grew smaller, larger, smaller and then finished the same way it began. The giants were not slayed, the little guys did not win, and in the end, what matters is that Pakistan's quarter-final hopes are alive, while Zimbabwe's are all but over. But the drama of the second half of the match did not decide its outcome as much as the deeds of the first did. For the third time in three matches, Pakistan's batting let them down. For the fourth time in four matches, Zimbabwe's death bowling let them down. After having Pakistan on the ropes at 162 for 6 from 40 overs, Zimbabwe conceded 73 in the last 10. They ended up falling just 20 short as Irfan and Wahab Riaz defended a total that was not quite in the realms of the indefensible, but close enough for Pakistan to feel far from comfortable.