BULAWAYO: Pakistan set a modest 133-run target against Zimbabwe in the final T20I of the three-match series at Queens Sports Club on Thursday.
Opting to bat first, the touring side could only accumulated 132/7 in the allotted 20 overs despite skipper Salman Ali Agha’s 32-run knock.
Pakistan had a dismal start to their innings as young opener Omair Bin Yousuf perished 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 had consequently slipped to 19/3 in four overs.
Emerging middle-order batter Tayyab Tahir briefly bolstered the team’s total with a brisk cameo, which lasted in the eighth over with the scoreboard reading 52/4 in 7.4 overs.
Tahir struck two fours and a six on his way to a 14-ball 21.
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Agha was involved in cautious partnerships with Qasim Akram (20) and Arafat Minhas before finally perishing in the 15th over.
Agha remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a run-a-ball 32, which included three boundaries.
Minhas then joined hands with Abbas Afridi for an important 27-run partnership for the seventh wicket, which lasted with the latter’s dismissal in the penultimate over. Abbas scored 15 off 14.
Meanwhile, Minhas carried his bat with an unbeaten 22 off 26 deliveries, while Jahandad Khan made six not out.
For Zimbabwe, Muzarabani bagged two wickets, while Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava and Ryan Burl shared four wickets between them.
For the unversed, Pakistan have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing series, thanks to their 57-run and 10-wicket victories in the first two fixtures, respectively.
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 and 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
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.
