© ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan secured a convincing 57-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first T20I of their three-match series, taking a commanding 1-0 lead. The match, played in Bulawayo, saw Pakistan post a challenging 165/4, thanks to a late-innings partnership between Tayyab Tahir and Irfan Khan. While Zimbabwe initially threatened a chase, scoring 75/2 in eight overs, their lower middle order crumbled under pressure. The hosts lost their last eight wickets for a mere 31 runs, handing Pakistan a comfortable win despite a mid-innings slump.
Pakistan’s strong start was fueled by Saim Ayub’s aggressive batting, capitalizing on dropped catches by the Zimbabwean fielders. However, Sikandar Raza’s exceptional spin bowling stemmed Pakistan’s momentum, restricting them to a slow scoring rate in the middle overs. Zimbabwe’s chase got off to a promising start, with Raza and Marumani building a strong partnership. However, once Marumani was run out, Zimbabwe’s lower middle order imploded, mirroring their previous struggles. Pakistan’s disciplined bowling, spearheaded by Sufiyan Muqeem and Haris Rauf, proved too much for Zimbabwe to overcome. Ultimately, a combination of Pakistan’s powerful batting and Zimbabwe’s inconsistent lower-middle order decided the fate of the match. The victory sets the stage for an exciting continuation of the series.
