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RAWALPINDI: Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan’s calculated knocks led Pakistan to a win against Zimbabwe in the opening match of the T20I tri-series here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a stiff 148, Pakistan hit the winning runs on the loss of five wickets with four balls to spare.
Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub started well in pursuit of the chase, adding 27 in 4.1 overs. The stand broke with Farhan’s wicket, who made 16 from 15 balls.
The hosts were pegged back with two more wickets in quick succession, which reduced them to 30-3 in 5.4 overs. Babar Azam was trapped lbw for a duck, while Salman Agha could only manage to score one.
With wickets tumbling, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman tried to arrest the slide and stitched a brief 24-run partnership. The stand brought the total to 50-run runs at the end of nine overs.
However, Zimbabwe mounted further pressure through Saim’s wicket, who scored 22 from 26, striking four fours and a six.
Yet Pakistan thrived, courtesy of Fakhar Zaman’s and Usman Khan’s match-winning partnership of 61 runs. The duo batted responsibility and helped the home side cross the 100-run mark at the end of the 15th over.
Fakhar’s 32-ball 44 included two sixes and two fours. With Green Shirts requiring 33 from 24 balls, Mohammad Nawaz walked in and forged a 36-run partnership that helped his side cross the finishing line.
Nawaz hit two fours and a six in his 21 from only 12 balls, while Usman Khan’s gutsy 37 from 28 featured three fours.
For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans remained the standout bowler and picked up two wickets.
Earlier, Pakistan spinners bowled economical spells to restrict Zimbabwe from scoring a formidable total.
Put into bat first, Zimbabwe managed to score 147-8 at the end of their 20 overs despite a solid start.
Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani put on a 72-run partnership in just eight overs. Both players batted briskly in the power play, amassing 13 from skipper Shaheen Afridi’s opening over.
The duo took on fast bowlers and took advantage of the fielding restrictions, scoring 11 and 17 from Saim Ayub’s fifth and Abrar Ahmed’s sixth over.
As a result, the visitors were 59 at the end of the power play.
However, it was Mohammad Nawaz who not only halted the scoring but also broke the partnership with Marumani’s wicket. He hit three fours and a six in his 30 from 22 balls.
Brendan Taylor was the second wicket to fall, courtesy of a run that sparked a collapse and halted Zimbabwe’s progress. Taylor departed after scoring run a ball 14. Consequently, they were reduced to 91-2 in 11 overs.
After 10 overs, the Green Shirts put on brakes on the visitors’ scoring rate and never allowed them to recover. Brian Bennett remained the top scorer with 49 from 36, laced with eight fours.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz picked up two wickets, whereas Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub scalped one apiece.
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