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sbet PAK Vs ZIM 3rd T20I: Zimbabwe Seal Victory By 2 Wickets To Deny Pakistan A Clean Sweep
Zimbabwe national cricket team.Photo: X | Zimbabwe Cricket Zimbabwe national cricket team.Photo: X | Zimbabwe Cricket
Pakistan's dream of a clean sweep in the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe was dashed as Sikandar Raza's side fought back to win the series finale by 2 wickets on Thursday, December 5, at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. (Match Highlights)
The tricky pitch usually favours the team batting first, and Pakistan, after winning the toss, opted to take advantage of it. But their innings got off to a poor start with Omair Yousuf falling for a duck in the second over. Sahibzada Farhan also departed early for 4 off 7 balls. Usman Khan soon followed for 5 off 8 balls.
After the collapse of the top order, Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir fought hard to rebuild the innings. However, Zimbabwe remained focused on their dream of securing a consolidation win.
The bowlers of Zimbabwe quickly broke the partnership, with Tahir falling first. Then, a costly mix-up resulted in Agha being run out, leaving Pakistan at a precarious 96/6 after 15 overs.
Tall fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani picked up two wickets inside the power play while Maposa struck with his medium pace and removed Tayyab Tahir (21) just when Pakistan looked to rebuild the innings.
Captain Salman Ali Agha held one end up with run-a-ball 32 and contributed 30 runs with Qasim Akram (20), who fell in the 12th over to a splendid catch by Dion Myers at backward point.
The pressure was mounting on the Men in Green as the host continued to tighten their grip but somehow Abbas Afridi's quick-fire 15 off 14 balls and a late cameo by Arafat Minhas (22 off 19) ensured Pakistan reached a total of 132/7 in 20 overs.
After the innings break, Zimbabwe’s chase started on a positive note with Brian Bennett (43 off 35) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (15 off 6) smashing boundaries. Bennett was particularly aggressive, hitting six boundaries and a six, before falling to Sufiyan Muqeem.
Dion Myers (13 off 18) soon followed him back to the dugout, leaving Zimbabwe at 77/3 after 11 overs. Despite these setbacks, hope was still alive for the hosts as the target seems achievable with their style of play.
Skipper Sikandar Raza's resilience kept Zimbabwe’s chase alive as he dug in, while Ryan Burl provided support. However, a crucial mix-up between the two resulted in Burl being run out for just 6 off 7 balls.
Raza's dismissal for 19 off 20 balls left the hosts at 113/6, requiring 20 runs off 11 balls. The pressure was at its peak as Wellington Masakadza was dismissed LBW for 6, leaving Zimbabwe needing just 1 run from the last two balls.
Muqeem (1-19) kept up the pressure and bowled his final over maiden as Zimbabwe lost six wickets for 47 runs with fast bowler Abbas Afridi claiming 3-24.
With 12 needed in the final over, Maposa struck Jahandad for a boundary to fine leg of the first ball before smacking the fast bowler over the mid-wicket for a big six of the next ball.
Jahandad couldn't run out Maposa on the third ball as he missed the stumps at the non-striker's end. With two needed off three balls Tashinga Musekiwa holed out at wide mid-on but Richard Ngarava took the home team over the line by driving the seamer to mid-on for a dramatic 2-wicket victory for Zimbabwe, avoiding the whitewash and completing a remarkable fightback to win the final match of the T20I series.
Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1, and then sealed the T20I series with huge margin victories by 57 runs and 10 wickets in the first two matches.
(With PTI Inputs)sbet