Pakistan secured a hard-earned five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the opening match of the T20I tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. The home team successfully chased a modest 148-run target with just four balls to spare, overcoming a mid-innings slump through a resilient partnership.
The chase began steadily but soon encountered significant resistance from the Zimbabwean bowlers. After openers Sahibzada Farhan (16) and Saim Ayub put on 27 runs, Brad Evans triggered a collapse by clean-bowling Farhan and then claiming the prized wicket of Babar Azam for a golden duck in the fifth over.
The situation worsened for Pakistan when captain Salman Ali Agha fell lbw to Tinotenda Maposa for just one run, leaving the home side reeling at 30/3.
Following the early slump, experienced batter Fakhar Zaman joined Saim Ayub in the middle. The pair cautiously added 24 runs before Ayub was dismissed for a 26-ball 22. Fakhar then found a reliable partner in Usman Khan, and together they staged a crucial recovery.
Their 61-run partnership for the fifth wicket pulled Pakistan back into contention. Fakhar was the aggressor, top-scoring with a brisk 44 off 32 deliveries, including two sixes and two fours, before falling to Richard Ngarava in the 16th over.
With the game in the balance, Usman Khan (37 not out from 28 balls) combined with all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz (20 not out from 12 balls) in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand. Their composed partnership guided Pakistan across the finish line on the second ball of the final over.
For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans emerged as the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 2/26 from his four overs. Maposa, Ngarava, and Graeme Cremer each claimed one wicket.
