Pakistan 165 for 4 wickets (Tayyab 39*, Usman 39, Raza 1-14) defeated zimbabwe 108 (Raza 39, Muqeem 3-20, Abrar 3-28) by 57 runs
The visitors included Sam Ayub in their T20 squad just before the start of the series and the in-form left-handed batsman played a key role in their push. Omair Yousuf took on Blessing Muzarabani in the second over, but was unlucky, getting out in the first over. Zimbabwe’s catching was an issue for most of the innings; In the next over, Usman Khan was dismissed on the very first ball. Ayub lifted the next ball over point for a brilliant six, while Usman scored 11 runs in the subsequent over. By the end of the fifth over, Pakistan had reached 49 runs, and on the batting surface, a score of 200 did not look unrealistic.
Sikandar Raza’s consistency is almost boring at this point, but on Sunday he was at his all-round best. Bringing himself forward at the end of the powerplay when Pakistan were gaining the lead, he bowled four perfect overs, with barely one ball hitting the wrong spot. Of his 24 balls, 13 were dot balls as he conceded only 14 runs during his spell. During this period, Pakistan’s pace slowed down and they played 63 balls without any boundaries.
At the other end, Ryan Burl and Wellington Masakadza held the fort as wickets fell at regular intervals; Between the end of the sixth over and the beginning of the 19th over, Pakistan could score only 79 runs in 13 overs. This will always raise questions about Pakistan’s middle-order, which seems unable to withstand pressure or maintain the scoring rate, with captain Salman Ali Aga struggling the most.
The onslaught in the final two overs took Pakistan to 165, but Zimbabwe came out of the trap confident that they could chase it down. Undeterred by the early loss of Brian Bennett and Dion Myers, Marumoni and Raza rallied and defeated Pakistan in the powerplay. Marumani scored 20 off Jehandad Khan’s second over, while Raza hit three consecutive fours off Abrar Ahmed to take Zimbabwe’s score to 50 in the fifth over, which was faster than Pakistan’s score during Pakistan’s fast start.
But Zimbabwe’s Achilles’ heel has been the lower middle-order, and that was proven once again. The rot started once again as a careless run-out was inserted into Marumani’s innings. Raza was isolated at the non-striker’s end as Pakistan helped themselves to wickets. Rauf hit a slap shot to Ryan Burl at mid-off, while Mukeem dismissed Clive Madande, and it soon became clear that any attempt at victory would have to be a one-man show.
But a beautiful change of pace from Jehandad Khan and a sharp catch at point from Ayub brought down Raza’s enterprising innings and the game ended as a contest. Muqim hit two fours in the next over, while Abrar sealed the victory by taking the last wicket; Zimbabwe had lost their last eight matches in 43 balls.
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