On October 27, Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by one run in one of the biggest upsets in ICC T20 World Cup history. Craig Ervine was the captain of the Craig Ervine-led team.
Zimbabwe scored 130 runs in its opening at-bat. To everyone's astonishment, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan were both dismissed early, which complicated matters.
Pakistan was down seven runs going into the last delivery and needed just three runs to win thanks to a tight bowling performance by the Zimbabwean bowlers. Mohammad Wasim was at the striker's end while Shaheen Afridi was on strike.
Although he was able to strike the ball, Afridi was unable to run three. He attempted to take a double with Wasim, but Sikandar Raza's superb throw at the keeper's end led to Afridi's dismissal.
Peter Della Penna, who is well known for analysing various outcomes of cricket matches, tweeted about how early Wasim departed the crease on the penultimate delivery, which may have caused a stir had the second run been successful.
He tweeted, “Most fielders do it anyway, but extra smart by @SRazaB24 to pick the striker’s end for the final ball runout to beat Pakistan. Wasim had left the non-striker’s end before Evans leaped into his delivery stride, huge start. Raza’s best option for a runout was always striker’s end.”
Most fielders do it anyway, but extra smart by @SRazaB24 to pick the striker's end for the final ball runout to beat Pakistan. Wasim had left the non-striker's end before Evans leaped into his delivery stride, huge start. Raza's best option for a runout was always striker's end. pic.twitter.com/8XaQyTvau9
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) October 27, 2022
Most fielders do it anyway, but extra smart by @SRazaB24 to pick the striker's end for the final ball runout to beat Pakistan. Wasim had left the non-striker's end before Evans leaped into his delivery stride, huge start. Raza's best option for a runout was always striker's end. pic.twitter.com/8XaQyTvau9
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) October 27, 2022
Here's the whole India innings charting balls that batters left early from non-striker's end.
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) October 23, 2022
Rohit: 5/13 (38%)
Rahul: 0/3
SKY: 0/3
Axar: 0/1
Kohli: 14/59 (24%)
Hardik: 5/43 (12%)
DK: 1/4 (25%).
Team total: 25/126 (19.8%).
This is as bad as it got for Kohli, dangling bat in air. pic.twitter.com/9wPXagnBB4
Here's the whole India innings charting balls that batters left early from non-striker's end.
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) October 23, 2022
Rohit: 5/13 (38%)
Rahul: 0/3
SKY: 0/3
Axar: 0/1
Kohli: 14/59 (24%)
Hardik: 5/43 (12%)
DK: 1/4 (25%).
Team total: 25/126 (19.8%).
This is as bad as it got for Kohli, dangling bat in air. pic.twitter.com/9wPXagnBB4
He then shared screenshots of Pakistani and Indian batters comparing the rate at which they leave the crease.
“Just imagine, though, if Pakistan had completed the second run to force a super over, knowing Zimbabwe had a chance to nip that run in the bud (or at least force a different runner to come to the non-striker’s end with 8 wickets down) before it started.”
His analysis showed that Pakistan have several batsmen who leave their crease early. On the other hand, Indian batters are disciplined and do not leave the crease early.