BULAWAYO: A combined team effort helped Zimbabwe register a consolation victory in the third T20I against Pakistan at the Queens Sports Club on Thursday.
It’s important to highlight that Pakistan won the series 2-1 after dominant victories in the first two matches.
The hosts, while chasing a target of 133 runs, successfully achieved the target of the penultimate delivery after losing eight wickets.
Brian Bennett led Zimbabwe’s run-chase with a 43-run knock from 35 balls, which featured six boundaries and one six.
Skipper Sikandar Raza (19) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (15) kept the hosts in the hunt amidst falling wickets before debutant Tinotenda Maposa struck 12 off 4 to steer Zimbabwe to the famous victory.
Earlier, Pakistan, after opting to bat first, were restricted to 132-7, courtesy of a disciplined bowling attack by Zimbabwe bowlers.
Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza’s new ball spell left Pakistan struggling on 19-3 in four overs before captain Salman Ali Agha played a stable 32-run knock from as many balls.
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Tayyab Tahir played a quick cameo of 21 off 14, while Qasim Akram struck 20 off 16 before Arafat Minhas scored an unbeaten 22 to take Pakistan’s total to 132-7 in 20 overs.
Muzarabani led the bowling attack with two wickets, while Masakadza, Tinotenda Maposa, Ryan Burl and Richard Ngarava bagged one wicket each.
It’s worth noting that Pakistan made four changes to their Playing XI, resting key players Saim Ayub, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf.
They were replaced by Sahibzada Farhan, Qasim Akram, Mohammad Hasnain, and Arafat Minhas. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe made one change, with Tindotenda Maposo coming in to replace Trevor Gwandu.
Pakistan Playing XI: Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Salman Agha (c), Tayyab Tahir, Qasim Akram, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Hasnain.
Zimbabwe Playing XI: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tindotenda Maposo.
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