Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by two wickets in the last T20I at Queens Sports Club on Thursday, ending their series whitewash ambitions. Zimbabwe won the consolation match when debutant Tinotenda Maposa scored 12 not out to support his 1/12 bowling numbers.
The home team started the run chase well, reaching 73/1 in 9.3 overs with opener Brian Bennet and Dion Myers. Bennet, Zimbabwe’s top scorer with a 35-ball 43, seven boundaries, and a six, was dismissed by emerging spinner Sufiyan Muqeem.
His ejection caused a middle-order collapse, reducing the home team to 94/5 in 14 overs. Skipper Sikandar Raza resisted Pakistan’s momentum-filled bowling till his 18th-over dismissal by Jahandad Khan.
Wellington Masakadza (six) was dismissed by Abbas Afridi, who scored 3/23 to further derail Zimbabwe’s chase. With Maposa on strike, the hosts required 12 from the last over.
Zimbabwe won by two wickets when the right-handed batter hit Jahandad Khan for four and six on the first two deliveries of the final over. Despite skipper Salman Ali Agha’s 32-run effort, the touring team scored 132/7 in 20 overs after batting first.
Pakistan started poorly as teenage opener Omair Bin Yousuf was dismissed for a golden duck on the second delivery of the second over with four runs on the board. The Green Shirts fell to 19/3 in four overs after losing two more wickets suddenly.
Middle-order batter Tayyab Tahir momentarily boosted the team’s total with a quick cameo in the eighth over, bringing the score to 52/4 in 7.4 overs. Two fours and a six helped Tahir reach 21 from 14 balls.
In the 15th over, Pakistan skipper Agha died after cautious partnerships with Qasim Akram (20) and Arafat Minhas.
Agha still led Pakistan with a run-a-ball 32, including three boundaries.
Minhas and Abbas Afridi then shared 27 runs for the seventh wicket till the latter’s demise in the last over. Abbas hit 15 off 14. Minhas batted undefeated for 22 off 26 deliveries, while Jahandad Khan made six.
Muzarabani took two wickets for Zimbabwe, while Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, and Ryan Burl took four. A two-wicket win prevented Zimbabwe from being swept by Pakistan 2-1.
