Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the second fixture of the three-match T20I series at the Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe bowled Pakistan out for a meagre 99 runs, with one ball to spare, while the green-shirt failed to chase the 119-run target.
Pakistan’s wickets started falling after opener Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for 13. Fakhar Zaman was sent back to the pavilion after he scored 2 runs, Mohammad Hafeez made 5, Danish Aziz 22, Asif Ali 1.
However, skipper Babar Azam tried to hold the fort by scoring 41 runs, but that was not enough.
Pakistan had made two changes in the playing eleven at the start of the match. Fast bowler Arshad Iqbal was given the T20I debut cap while middle-order batsman Asif Ali was recalled to the side. The two had replaced Haider Ali and Mohammad Nawaz.
For Pakistan, regular wickets taken by its bowlers throughout the innings ensured the team would require 119 runs to win.
For the hosts, only four players were able to make double digit scores with opening batsman Tinashe Kamunhukamwe the only one who scored more than 30 runs.
Pakistani bowlers did not disappoint, with Mohammad Hasnain and Danish Aziz taking two wickets each while debutant Arshad Iqbal, leg spinner Usman Qadir, Faheem Ashraf and pacer Haris Rauf picked a wicket each.
Aziz, while speaking to the commentators after the innings, said that the team tried bowling wicket to wicket to the opposition.
He praised the team management and skipper Babar Azam for including the youngsters in the playing XI, referring to it as a “good opportunity”.
