ZIM vs PAK 2024/25, ZIM vs PAK 3rd T20I Match Report, December 05, 2024

zimbabwe 133 for 8 (Bennett 43, Afridi 3-24) defeated Pakistan 132 for 7 (Salman 32, Muzarabani 2-25) by two wickets

on tuesdayThe Zimbabwe cricket team let down the enthusiastic Bulawayo crowd, but today, they got them back up. In a nerve-wracking encounter, Zimbabwe controlled, won, conceded and ultimately stole the roller-coaster of the game with the final delivery. A slap from Richard Ngarawa that hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end, a hesitant panic and a feint single were all that was needed to ensure a two-wicket victory that would have been more than a mere consolation to register. Like the 2-1 defeat in the series against Pakistan.

Chasing the target of 133 runs after a poor batting performance from Pakistan, Brian Bennett And Tadivanashe Marumani The game appeared to be settled when Zimbabwe scored 50 runs in five overs. But no game is truly complete with a middle order as fragile as Zimbabwe’s, and even when the hosts were sitting at 73 for 1 with more than half the overs remaining, Pakistan knew that They have a shot, at least not because of one. Sufiyan Muqeem-Shape’s trump card which once again played well in the middle overs. In the space of five overs, 73 for 1 became 94 for 5 as Muqim increased the pressure. Abbas Afridi Was cleared from the other end. The run rate had reached 12 with four overs remaining.

Pakistan believed Sikandar Raza stood between them and victory, and when Zimbabwe’s talisman missed long-on off the bowling of Jahandad Khan, the game was looking good for Zimbabwe. The 21-year-old player needed 12 runs in the last over. Tinotenda Maposa – On T20 debut – On strike, things looked bleak. But a quick boundary followed by a six over square leg left Zimbabwe two runs away from victory. There was time for more drama when Tshinga Musekiwa went for a glory shot and missed, but this time the Bulawayo crowd filled with soulful singing could not be denied.

Well-organized Zimbabwe disorganizes Pakistan

Hurt by heavy criticism after an embarrassing defeat in the second T20I, Zimbabwe came out with much more intensity. blessings to muzarabani Omair Yousuf was out for a duck before Wellington Masakadza, who was accurate throughout, dismissed Sahibzada Farhan. A short thump from Usman Khan off Muzarabani secured the third wicket and Zimbabwe did better in the powerplay by some distance.

Raza realized that Pakistan were struggling against spin, and brought on himself, Ryan Burl and Brian Bennett at various stages in the middle overs. Pakistan were batting with a long tail, which required rebuilding in the middle overs. Salman Aga kept the visitors engaged by building useful partnerships with Tayyab Tahir and Qasim Akram, before useful cameos from Arafat Minhas and Abbas Afridi took Pakistan past the three-figure mark. It was only Muzarabani’s 13-run final over that took Pakistan past 130 against a bowling attack that gave them very few chances throughout the innings. This was almost enough.

Bennett and Marumani scorched Pakistan

Pakistan were defending a small score and the Zimbabwean openers essentially broke their back. The intent was clear when Bennett hit Mohammad Hasnain to the square leg boundary on the first ball of the innings. Marumani, who has got the better of Jahandad for most of this series, hit him for two fours on the offside in the second over and from then on Zimbabwe’s lead increased.

But when Hasnain stood in the line to bowl his second over, he had to be caught out by Bennett. Their line and length were all over the place and the batsmen were all too happy to take advantage by hitting boundaries on either side of the wicket, conceding 19 runs in the wrong over. Salman quickly brought himself into the attack and Marumani reverse swept him on the very first ball. It took him only 19 balls to reach 40 and the required rate was now less than five.

Mukeem’s magic almost derails Zimbabwe

There is no better indication of the start Muqim has made to T20I cricket than the way Pakistan turned to him for miracles when they needed wickets and needed to rein in the run rate. No batsman could really identify his wrong-points, and his figures of 4-1-19-1 did not do justice to the full breadth of his wizardry. There were several hits that barely missed the outside edge, and some top edges that could have easily gone straight to slip. This culminated in a fascinating final over to Musekiwa, who tried his best to bowl him out, and was willing to play a maiden over as the asking rate increased after each ball.

On any other day, Muqim would have finished the game before his spell ended, and on the evidence of this series, there would be many more such days.

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