BULLOWO: Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by 57 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Queen’s Sports Club on Sunday, thanks to brilliant centuries from Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Muqeem.
Chasing a target of 164, Zimbabwe’s batting unit was bundled out for 108 in 15.3 overs despite the quick knocks of captain Sikandar Raza and opener Tadewanashe Maromani.
The home side got off to a shaky start in the chase as they lost two wickets inside three overs with just 18 runs on the board.
However, a quick knock from Maromani kept Zimbabwe on track until his agonising dismissal in the ninth over. He scored 33 runs off just 20 balls with the help of four fours and a six.
His dismissal opened the floodgates as the home side were all out for 108 from 77/2, despite Raza’s brilliant innings of 39 runs to bring them to an end.
For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Muqeem took three wickets each, Haris Rauf took two while Jahandad Khan took one wicket.
Opting to bat first, the Men in Green got off to an inauspicious start to their innings when they lost young opener Umair Bin Yousuf to Richard Negrawa in the third over as he was dismissed for 16 runs off 13 balls with the help of two fours. A six
Out to bat at number three, Usman Khan took the reins of Pakistan’s batting campaign.
He was also involved in two crucial partnerships with Saim Ayub (24) and skipper Salman Ali Agha before finally collapsing in the 13th over for 91.
The right-handed batsman remained the joint top scorer for Pakistan with 39 runs off 30 balls, which included two fours and as many sixes.
After his dismissal, Sikandar Raza removed Agha, who had played a brilliant innings of 13 runs off 19 balls, to take Pakistan to 100/4 in 14.2 overs.
After the relegation, Tayyab and Mohammad Irfan Khan put on an unbeaten 65-run partnership to take their team’s total beyond 160.
Tayyab hit five fours, including a six, on his way to an unbeaten 35 off 29 balls, while Irfan scored 27 not out off 15 balls.
Earlier, the Men in Green won the toss and elected to bat first against the hosts.
On Thursday, the Men in Green defeated Zimbabwe by 99 runs in the third One-Day International to clinch the series 2-1.
Pakistan and Zimbabwe entered the three-match series at contrasting cadences.
The home side is unbeaten in their last five appearances in the format, part of their excellent run in the recently held ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier.
Meanwhile, the Green Shirts are reeling from a 3-0 whitewash against Australia, their first series after a disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which marked their first-ever exit from the tournament beyond the group stage.
Playing XI:
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Saim Ayub, Umair Bin Yousuf, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Jehandad Khan, Muhammad Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, and Sufyan Muqeem.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burrell, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Todanashe Marumani (wicket), Tshenga Musikewa, Richard Ngarwa, Devon Myers, Wellington Masakadza
