Rawalpindi: Pakistan secured a hard-fought win over Zimbabwe in the opening match of the T20 tri-series opener on Tuesday at Rawalpindi cricket stadium, recovering from a shaky start in pursuit of a 148-run target.
Zimbabwe Post Competitive Total
Zimbabwe, sent in to bat after Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss, reached 147 for eight in their 20 overs. The visiting side began strongly, with openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani putting on a 72-run stand. Bennett fell just short of a half-century with 49, while Marumani added 30.
Captain Sikandar Raza guided the innings to a respectable finish, remaining unbeaten on 34. Brendan Taylor chipped in with 14 before being run out, and Brad Evans was dismissed for two.
Pakistan Bowlers Keep Zimbabwe in Check
Pakistan’s attack shared the wickets evenly. Mohammad Nawaz struck twice, while Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed each claimed one. Their tight spells prevented Zimbabwe from accelerating in the final overs.
Pakistan Stumble, Then Regain Control
Chasing 148, Pakistan endured immediate trouble when Babar Azam fell for a duck. Sahibzada Farhan also departed early, deepening the pressure.
Despite the early losses, Fakhar Zaman steadied the innings with a composed 44, providing the platform Pakistan needed. Saim Ayub contributed 22, though captain Salman Ali Agha was dismissed for just one. Wicket keeper Batsman Usman Khan and Muhammad Nawaz scored 37 and 21 runs respectively to cruise Pakistan to victory.
Pakistan Close Out Victory
Pakistan’s middle order held firm in the latter stages, guiding the hosts past the target with wickets and balls to spare. The win gave Pakistan the ideal start in a tri-series featuring Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, setting the tone for the matches ahead.
