Pakistan thumped Zimbabwe by 69 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday evening to reach the T20I Tri-series Final.
Chasing a challenging 196-run target for victory, Zimbabwe kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were bundled out for 126 on the last ball of the penultimate over.
Ryan Burl was the top scorer for the visitors with an unbeaten 67 off 49 balls, laced with eight fours and two maximums. Skipper Sikandar Raza contributed 23 off 18 balls with the help of two fours and one maximum. No other batter could enter the double figures.
Usman Tariq was the pick of the bowlers with his career-best figures of four for 18, including a hat-trick. Mohammad Nazawz bagged two wickets, and Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim one each, while Richard Ngarava was run out. Usman Tariq was named Player of the Match for his exceptional contribution with the ball.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan plundered 195 runs for the loss of five wickets in their quota of 20 overs.
Babar Azam was the highest scorer for the Green shirts with 74 off 52 balls, hitting seven fours and two maximums. Sahibzada Farhan made 63 off 41 balls, laced with four fours and three maximums. Batting at number seven, Fakhar Zaman contributed a valuable unbeaten 27 off just 10 balls with the help of one four and three maximums. Saim Ayub made 13 off eight balls.
Skipper Sikandar Raza bagged two wickets, and Brad Evans and Richard Ngarva one each, while Faheem Ashraf was run out.
Pakistan Playing XI: 1. Saim Ayub, 2. Sahibzada Farhan, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Salman Ali Agha, 5. Usman Khan, 6. Fakhar Zaman, 7. Muhammad Nawaz, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Mohammad Wasim, 10. Naseem Shah, 11. Usman Tariq
Zimbabwe Playing XI: 1. Brian Bennett, 2. Ryan Burl, 3. Sikandar Raza (capt), 4. Bradley Evans, 5. Brendan Taylor (wk), 6. Tadiwanashe Marumani, 7. Tashinga Musekiwa, 8. Tony Munyonga, 9. Wellington Masakadza, 10. Tinotenda Maposa, 11. Richard Ngarava
