BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe: Sufiyan Muqeem-led Pakistan’s bowling attack annihilated Zimbabwe’s batting lineup and restricted the host team to 57 runs in the second T20I of the three-match series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
The home side started its inning with a decent start as openers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Biran Bennett batted sensibly up top. The opening duo registered a 37-run partnership, which lasted with Marumani’s dismissal off Abbas Afridi in the fifth over. He scored 16 off 14 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.
Fellow opener Bennett followed the suit, just three balls later, as he fell victim to Haris Rauf. Bennett remained the top-scorer for Zimbabwe with a 14-ball 21.
Earlier, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the decision backfired as Zimbabwe’s batting unit unfolded on a meagre 57 in the 13th over.
Pakistan Playing XI
Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (WK), Omair Bin Yousuf, Salman Agha (c), Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf.
Zimbabwe Playing XI
Brain Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Tawandanashe Marumani (WK), Tashinga Musekiwa, Richard Ngarava, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Wellington Masakadza.
Pakistan and Zimbabwe have come face-to-face 19 times in T20Is with the former boasting a dominant record with 17 victories, compared to the opposition’s two, which included a famous one-run victory during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
