Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 11 runs to take the first match of the series. Chasing 149 to win the home team was jolted early by Hasnain’s spell who took two wickets in two balls. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe and Craig Ervine batted with purpose and brought their side back into the game with a 56 run partnership. But soon after their dismissal, Pakistan tightened the screws.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan was brilliant yet again and played a lone hand in guiding his side to a respectable 149-run total against Zimbabwe.
After losing the toss and being put in to bat first, Pakistan was dealt an early blow when they lost their skipper Babar Azam early, caught by fielder Ryan Burl off the bowling of pacer Blessing Muzarabani.
In-form batsman Fakhar Zaman survived early after a miscue was dropped but could not make it count. The batsman fell after scoring 13 runs off 14 balls, bowled by spinner Wesley Madhevere.
The wicket opened the doors towards Pakistan’s middle and lower order which had struggled tremendously during the recently concluded series against South Africa.
The Men in Green faced another collapse as the batsmen in the fragile middle-order fell without denting the score in any significant manner.
Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez could not get going and was removed by spinner Wesley Madhevere, caught by fielder Richard Ngarava.
Jongwe and Madhevere were the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe after taking two wickets each.
