Pakistan have won the toss and chosen to bat first in the final T20I of the three-match series against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Thursday in Bulawayo.
Playing XIs:
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Omair Bin Yousuf, Salman Agha (c), Tayyab Tahir, Qasim Akram, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Hasnain.
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tindotenda Maposo.
Left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem’s exceptional five-wicket haul helped Pakistan clinch the series victory with a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 series at Queens Sports Club.
Chasing a modest target of 58, Pakistan reached the required total within the batting powerplay, finishing without losing a wicket in the second T20I.
Left-handed opener Saim Ayub played a pivotal role in the chase, scoring a rapid 36 off 18 balls, which included six fours and a six. His partner, Omair Bin Yousuf, was equally effective, contributing an unbeaten 22 from 15 balls, with two fours and a six to seal the win.
Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and opted to bat, but the decision quickly backfired as his team’s batting collapsed under pressure. The hosts were reduced to 37/2, after a solid start from openers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Biran Bennett, who put on a brisk 37-run partnership.
Marumani, who had made 16 off 14 balls, was the first to fall, dismissed by Abbas Afridi in the fifth over. Bennett followed soon after, falling for 21 off 14 balls to Haris Rauf.
What followed was a dramatic collapse, with Zimbabwe losing their last eight wickets for just 20 runs. None of the Zimbabwean batters could reach double figures as Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly the spinners, dominated the innings.
Sufiyan Muqeem was the standout performer for Pakistan, finishing with exceptional figures of 5/3 from 2.4 overs – the best by a Pakistan bowler in T20I history, only behind Umar Gul’s 5/6.
Abbas Afridi also impressed with the ball, taking two wickets, while Haris Rauf, Salman Ali Agha, and Abrar Ahmed each claimed one wicket.
Pakistan’s bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to a paltry total, completing the rout in just 12.4 overs.
Pakistan won the first T20I by 57 runs.
