Pakistan bagged a dominating victory against Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to clinch three-match series after outclassing the hosts in second T20I played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Earlier, Pakistan sent back all Zimbabwe batters to pavilion at just 57 runs following Sufiyan Muqeem’s five-fer in the second T20I of the three-match series being played at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday.
The hosts’ captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and elected to bat first. His decision, however, backfired as Zimbabwe’s batting unit unfolded on a meagre 57 in the 13th over.
The home side got off to a decent start to their innings as openers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Biran Bennett batted sensibly up top.
The opening duo registered a brisk 37-run partnership, which lasted with Marumani’s dismissal off Abbas Afridi in the fifth over. He scored 16 off 14 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.
Fellow opener Bennett followed the suit, just three balls later, as he fell victim to Haris Rauf. Bennett remained the top-scorer for Zimbabwe with a 14-ball 21.
The back-to-back dismissals sparked a match-defining collapse, majorly inflicted by the spinners, resulting in Zimbabwe slipping from 37/2 to 57 all out.
Besides openers, none of the Zimbabwe batters could amass double figures as Pakistan bowlers dominated the proceedings.
Left-arm spinner Muqeem was the standout bowler for the green shirts, returning bowling figures of 5/3 in 2.4 overs – the best by a Pakistan bowler in men’s T20Is, only behind Umar Gul’s 5/6.
Right-arm pacer Abbas bagged two wickets, while Rauf, Salman Ali Agha and Abrar Ahmed chipped in with a wicket apiece.
For the unversed, Pakistan lead the ongoing three-match series against Zimbabwe 1-0, courtesy of their commanding 57-run victory in the series opener.
