Bulawayo (Web Desk): Zimbabwe avoided a series whitewash by defeating Pakistan by two wickets in the final game of three-match T20I series at Queens Sports Club on Thursday.
Pakistan had earlier set a modest target of 133, scoring 132/7 in their 20 overs, with Salman Ali Agha top-scoring for them with 32. Zimbabwe's chase was off to a strong start with 73/1 in 9.3 overs, but Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Abbas Afridi (3/23), triggered a middle-order collapse.
Zimbabwe slipped to 94/5 by the 14th over, but Tinotenda Maposa's late cameo of 12* guided them to victory. He hit a four and a six in the final over, securing the two-wicket win.
Pakistan had a rough start, losing three wickets quickly, and despite some resistance from Tayyab Tahir (21) and Agha, they couldn’t build enough partnerships.
Zimbabwe's bowlers, including Muzarabani (2/24), Masakadza, Maposa, Ngarava, and Burl, shared the wickets. This victory allowed Zimbabwe to avoid a clean sweep, with Pakistan winning the series 2-1.
Playing XIs:
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Omair Bin Yousuf, Salman Agha (c), Tayyab Tahir, Qasim Akram, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Arafat Minhas and Mohammad Hasnain.
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tindotenda Maposo
