BULAWAYO: Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by two wickets in the last over of the final T20I of the three-match series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday.
In response to Pakistan’s 133-run target, Zimbabwe managed to reach the target in 19.5 overs with the loss of eight wickets. Opting to bat first, Pakistan had scored 132 while losing seven wickets.
The home side had a flying start to the run chase as they were 73/1 in 9.3 overs with opening batter Brian Bennet and Dion Myers at the crease.
Pakistan’s Emerging spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, however, provided his team with a major breakthrough, dismissing Bennet, who remained the top-scorer for Zimbabwe with a 35-ball 43, smashing seven boundaries including a six.
His dismissal collapsed the middle-order collapse, which saw the home side slipping to 94/5 in 14 overs.
Captain Sikandar Raza gave some resistance against Pakistan’s bowling attack until he was dismissed by Jahandad Khan in the 18th over.
Abbas Afridi inflicted another dent in Zimbabwe’s run chase by getting rid of Wellington Masakadza (six). The hosts then needed 12 runs off the final over with Maposa on strike.
The right-handed batter struck Jahandad Khan a four and a six on the first two deliveries of the decisive over, which eventually proved enough to spearhead Zimbabwe to a narrow two-wicket victory.
Pakistan has already won the 3-match series with 2-1.
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.
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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.
