Rawalpindi, Nov. 18 – In a high‑stakes T20I, Pakistan pulled off a narrow 5‑wicket victory over Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi, thanks to an all‑round heroics from spinner Mohammad Nawaz.
The match got off to a frantic start. Zimbabwe batted first, cruising to 72 for 1 after eight overs and shaping a target in the 180‑run range. But Pakistan’s bowlers, especially Nawaz, turned the tide in the middle overs. With clever variations and tighter line‑and‑length, Nawaz took two wickets – removing Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl – and ran just 22 runs in 4 overs. His spell made Zimbabwe collapse, losing seven wickets for 37 runs and finishing at 147 for 8.
Zimbabwe’s top order fought valiantly: Sikandar Raza stayed not out on 34, while Brian Bennett strolled to 49. Yet the pressure on the middle and lower order proved too much, and the hosts were pegged back to 128 for 8 by the 19th over.
Pakistan’s chase hit a rough patch when the Zimbabwean seamers dominated the powerplay. Brad Evans snared both Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam in the fifth over, and Tinotenda Maposa dismissed Salman Agha in the sixth. By the end of the powerplay, Pakistan were 31 for 3, the required run rate climbing as wickets fell. Saim Ayub was out to Graeme Cremer’s leg spin in the 10th over, pushing the run rate to nine.
However, the Pakistani side staged a comeback. Fakhar Zaman, making his return to T20I cricket, steadied the innings with 44 off 32 balls. He paired up with Usman Khan for a crucial 61‑run partnership that brought Pakistan back into the game. When the chase threatened to slip again midway through the innings, Nawaz joined the attack, and with a drop from Brian Bennett overlooked, the spinner struck a six and two fours, ensuring the team surged ahead.
Pakistan crossed the target comfortably, finishing 151 for 5 in 19.2 overs – four balls to spare. Nawaz finished on 2 for 22, playing a key role with both bat and ball. The win keeps Pakistan in the hunt for a top spot in the T20I rankings and underlines the dramatic potential of relatively new teams on the global stage.
Match Summary
- Zimbabwe: 147/8 (20 overs – Brian Bennett 49, Sikandar Raza 34*; Mohammad Nawaz 2/22)
- Pakistan: 151/5 (19.2 overs – Fakhar Zaman 44, Usman Khan 37*; Brad Evans 2/26) – 5 wickets to win
This encounter highlighted the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and showcased how a single all‑rounder can change the course of a match.
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