On Sunday, Pakistan completed an emphatic eight-wicket victory against Zimbabwe to seal the series. While chasing 135, captain Babar Azam and young Haider Ali made a light work of the chase as Pakistan cruised to victory with five overs to spare.
Babar continued from where he left in the first game and scored his 16th T20I half-century, fastest of his career. Haider Ali once again gave a good account of his talent and range as he scored his second T20I fifty in his third game with 6 fours and 3 sixes. He remained not out on 66. In partnership, the duo added 100 runs to the scoreboard.
Zimbabwe bowling was absolutely dismal. Although they did manage to dismiss Fakhar Zaman early but had no answer to Babar and Haider’s master class. Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers, as he has been throughout the tour and picked up both wickets in the innings. Other bowlers were not able to make any in-roads and went for more than 8 runs per over.
Earlier, the game was set up by the bowlers. Although, Zimbabwe had did get off to a flying start with them scoring 36 in the first 4 overs but Pakistani bowlers pulled it back. Haris Rauf showed his usual aggression and bowled with pace and control. He dismissed both Brendon Taylor and captain Chamu Chibabha, who is having a horrid tour with the bat.
After that Usman Qadir spun his web around the visitors. He had everything going for him. He deceived batsmen with pace and variety and made life tough for them throughout. Wesley Madhevere was trapped in front of the stumps as he couldn’t pick the googly, Sikandar Raza was clean bowled. Elton Chigumbura did spoil Usman’s figure with a six and a four in last over before getting stumped with a delivery that turned away from him. Usman Qadir eventually finished with 3 for 23 in his four overs.
Faheem Ashraf picked up one wicket. Wahab Riaz and Muhammad Hasnain didn’t take any wickets but kept a lid on the scoring rate and strangled the opposition.
Ryan Burl was the only bright spot for the visitors with the bat and the top-scored with 32. It was his intelligent knock that gave some respectibility to the total otherwise his team was in danger of getting bowled out before the 20 overs.
Pakistan will be going in the third game with a focus on the future and might give bench players a go. On the other hand, Zimbabwe will be looking to redeem themselves and finish the tour on a high. The visitors know they have been below par in all three departments and need to pull up their socks for the last game on Tuesday.
