BULAWAYO: Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani spearheaded a disciplined bowling performance to limit Pakistan to 132/7 in the final T20I of the three-match series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday.
Pakistan opting to bat first had a dismal start to their innings as young opener Omair Bin Yousuf was dismissed for a golden duck on the second delivery of the second over with just four runs on the board.
The green shirts lost two more wickets in quick succession and consequently scored 19/3 in four overs.
Middle-order batter Tayyab Tahir played a brisk knock, which lasted in the eighth over with the scoreboard reading 52/4 in 7.4 overs. He struck two fours and a six on his way to a 14-ball 21.
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Agha tried to build partnerships with Qasim Akram (20) and Arafat Minhas before finally throwing away his wicket in the 15th over.
Agha was the top-scorer for Pakistan with a run-a-ball 32, which included three boundaries. Minhas carried his bat with an unbeaten 22 off 26 deliveries, while Jahandad Khan made six not out.
For Zimbabwe, Muzarabani grabbed two wickets, while Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava and Ryan Burl shared four wickets between them.
Pakistan Playing XI
Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Omair Bin Yousuf, Salman Agha (c), Tayyab Tahir, Qasim Akram, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Arafat Minhas and Mohammad Hasnain.
Zimbabwe Playing XI
Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tindotenda Maposo
Zimbabwe had faced a 57-run defeat in the series opener, followed by a 10-wicket thrashing in the second match.
Pakistan and Zimbabwe have come face-to-face 20 times in T20Is with the former having a dominant record with 18 victories, compared to the opposition teams with two wins.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan suffered a 3-0 clean sweep at the hands of Australia last month.
