Zimbabwe scored 60 runs in the power play despite losing two quick wickets. The target of 166 runs was indicated to be chased. But sometimes they lost in the whirlwind magic of Abrar Ahmed and Sufian Mukim. 108 runs. Like the last two matches of the ODI series, Pakistan did not let Zimbabwe stand in the first T20 today. Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with a 57-run victory.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bat first in the first T20 of the series in Bulawayo. Opener Omair Yusuf returned in the third over of the innings with a glimpse of a good start. He scored 16 runs off 13 balls with one six and four each. The second wicket pair of Saeem Ayyub and Usman Khan handled the rough start for Pakistan. The two added 39 runs off 31 balls by batting carefully.
Sayem failed to increase the innings even after settling down. He returned in the eighth over with 24 runs off 18 balls. Salman and Usman put on another partnership of 34 runs for the third wicket. Usman was out for 39 runs off 30 balls. Then Salman returned. He scored 13 runs off 18 balls on his captaincy debut.
In the fifth wicket, Mohammad Irfan Khan and Tayeb Tahir made a great pair of 65 runs from 34 balls and crossed the score of 150 in the team. Tayeb remained unbeaten on 39 off 15 balls and Irfan on 27 off 15 balls. Richard Ngarava, Hamilton Masakadza, Sikandar Raja and Ryan Burl took one wicket each for Zimbabwe.
Chasing a target of 166 runs, Zimbabwe lost 2 wickets for 18 runs at the start of Abrar's whirlwind magic. Opener Brian Bennett and Dion Myers scored 6 runs each. Both were bowled by Abrar. Raja and Tadiwanashe Marumani counter-attacked under pressure. They added 59 runs from 33 balls for the third wicket.
When Raja and Marumani were out, Zimbabwe's hopes of winning ended. Marumani scored 33 runs off 20 balls. 39 runs from 28 balls came from Raja's bat. The next batters could not even reach double figures thanks to Sufyan's whirlwind and Haris Rauf's cannon. Zimbabwe were all out for 108 runs in 15.3 overs. Sufyan took three wickets for 20 runs, Abrar took three wickets for 28 runs and Haris took two wickets for 17 runs.
