Sikandar, the king of good ‘time’

Sikandar Raza is having a great ‘time’ on the field.

Before they came to the T20 World Cup, the Zimbabwean all-rounder had a deal with his captain Craig Ervine that every time one among them won a Man of the Match award, the other would have to gift a watch. Raza has already been adjudged best of the match thrice.

Raza was seen tapping his wrist in a signal to Ervine on Thursday. “When we were coming to Australia, I said to my captain, ‘If you become Man of the Match, pick any watch from the catalogue and I’ll buy you. But if I win Man of the Match, then you’re gonna buy me one.’

“So I’m just reminding him that you (Ervine) now owe me three watches actually,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

The all-rounder sensationally picked up 3/25 against Pakistan on Thursday as Zimbabwe prevailed by one run in a final-ball thriller to register their first Super 12 win at the T20 World Cup.

Zimbabwe left the 2009 World T20 champions with their tournament in tatters

From being restricted to a modest 130/8 at Perth Stadium, Zimbabwe allowed Pakistan just 129/8 in reply.

This was the Chevron’s first win from two matches after they split points with South Africa following a washout.

two-metre tall Blessing Muzarabani (1/18) on to his stumps.

For the second time in the tournament, star Pakistani openers — Babar and Rizwan — failed to provide a good start. Babar looked tentative before he was squared up by a seaming fuller length delivery from Evans.

It was left to Shan Masood to steady the ship with a composed 44, regularly exploiting the large outfield to run twos. But Raza further pegged back the Asian side with his off-spin, having Masood stumped off a wide.

After losing the toss earlier, Pakistan’s much-vaunted pace attack bowled too full in the Powerplay overs, conceding 47 runs, although quick wickets to dismiss the Zimbabwe openers kept the rate in check.

Signalling a return to form after scoring one in his side’s washout against South Africa on Monday, all-rounder Sean Williams (31) found the boundary three times and looked set to accelerate with the score at 95/3 and six overs remaining.

Spinner Shadab Khan (3/23) clean bowled the left-hander before he had the chance though, triggering a collapse in which four wickets fell in six deliveries with no runs added.

Late runs from Evans (19 off 15 balls) gave the African side the lift they ultimately needed to move to third position in Group II.

Raza was too overcome by emotions to express himself.

“I think I’m lost for words. My throat’s dry, probably because of all the emotions. I can’t tell you how proud I am of this bunch of boys.

Raza thanked former Australia captain Ricky Ponting for inspiring him to give his best. The ICC tweeted a video of Ponting praising the Zimbabwean, saying, “He just seems to know exactly what to do, when to do it.”

“The motivation was always there but if I needed a little push, I thought that clip did a wonder, so thanks very much to Ricky as well.”