Amin: Pakistan did the basics right

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Cricket365
August 30, 2013

Pakistan batsman Umar Amin was thrilled to record his first ODI half century on Thursday, helping his side to a 90-run win over Zimbabwe in Harare, thus levelling the series at one all.

Pakistan made 299 for six, thanks to Amin's 59 and his 129-run stand with Mohammad Hafeez. Zimbabwe were then all out for 209, and Amin said both batsmen and bowlers aimed to 'stick to the basics' after losing the first ODI.

Amin, having played eight ODIs, had yet to record a fifty, and he was the support act for Hafeez, who went on to make 136 not out. Amin made his 59 runs off 71 balls, before being run out by Tendai Chatara.

Amin said after the match: "After losing the first game there was some pressure on us but the way we bounced back today shows that we are a great team. Everybody was focused on today's game and wanted to win.

"The plan was simple, to play to our potential. Sometime it does get little bit difficult, because such defeats are remembered for long. So it was crucial, and also we had to win to keep the series alive.

"We knew they would come strong at us and we would need to play at our best. The game plan was simply to stick to the basics though, and do the best we could to win.

"If you talk about my batting, the situation demanded me to stick in there and get used to the conditions. They are not as pacey as our bowlers, but still they stuck with the basics, hit the right areas and utilised the conditions well.

"They didn't give us easy balls to hit boundaries, but you always have a game plan against any bowling and for me it was simple – to stay there and make the best out of my good start.

"In the end I got my first international fifty and it's a great feeling."