Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the second T20I at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday to win the series. Pakistan beat a modest 58-run total in the batting powerplay without losing a wicket. Left-handed opener Saim Ayub orchestrated the match-winning stand with his fast 36-run knock off 18 deliveries, including six fours and a six.
Omair Bin Yousuf, his opening partner, struck an unbeaten 22 from 15 deliveries with two fours and a six. The hosts’ captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and batted first. Zimbabwe’s batting lineup scored 57 in the 13th over, putting his decision to waste. The home team started well with Tadiwanashe Marumani and Biran Bennett batting smartly.
The opening pair scored 37 runs before Marumani was dismissed by Abbas Afridi in the fifth over. Three boundaries helped him score 16 off 14 deliveries. Bennett succumbed to Haris Rauf three balls later. Bennett scored 21 from 14 balls to lead Zimbabwe.
Back-to-back dismissals caused Zimbabwe to collapse from 37/2 to 57 all out, mostly due to the spinners. Except for openers, Zimbabwe hitters failed to reach double figures as Pakistan bowlers dominated.
The green shirts’ finest bowler was left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, who bowled 5/3 in 2.4 overs, second only to Umar Gul’s 5/6. Rauf, Salman Ali Agha, and Abrar Ahmed each took one wicket, while right-arm bowler Abbas took two.
The 10-wicket win gave Pakistan a 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe in the three-match series, with T20I on December 5 at the same venue.
