Zimbabwe collapse to concede series lead to Pakistan

Zimbabwe collapsed with the bat to lose the opening T20I against Pakistan in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe were 77/2 in the ninth over before losing wickets in clusters to get bowled out for 108, well short of Pakistan's 165/4.

Zimbabwe didn't get off to the greatest of starts in the chase as Abrar Ahmed struck twice in the third over, rattling the stumps on both occasions, to reduce the home side to 18/2. However, the game turned on its head in the very next over as Tadiwanashe Marumani hammered a six and three fours as Zimbabwe raced to 40/2 by the end of the fourth over. In the following over, it was the turn of Sikandar Raza to slam a hat-trick of boundaries as Zimbabwe's powerful finish to the powerplay saw them knock off 60 runs.

Just when things were looking rosy for the home side, a needless run out brought about their downfall. Just two overs later, Ryan Burl miscued Haris Rauf and from thereon, they lost five wickets in the next four overs. That included the key wicket of the well-set Raza as Zimbabwe slid in stunning fashion. Rauf and Abrar then finished proceedings. Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar both finished with three-wicket hauls for Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, a new-look Pakistan batting lineup started in watchful fashion. Omair Yousuf received a reprieve and followed it up with a six and a four before miscuing one off Richard Ngarava. Saim Ayub and Usman Khan did help Pakistan score 49 in the opening five overs but post that, the scoring rate dipped. Pakistan reached the 100-run mark only after 14 overs and needed a big push in the final overs. Salman Agha's dismissal at that point came as a blessing in disguise as Irfan Khan walked out to the middle to join Tayyab Tahir to smash the Zimbabwean bowling attack at the death. Zimbabwe were particularly sloppy in the final three overs where they conceded 44 runs which definitely made a difference in the end.