Sports Desk
Harare: A brilliant batting display by Mohammad Rizwan and an outstanding bowling spell by Hasan Ali helped Pakistan to win the third T20I by 24 runs and claim the series 2-1 at Harare Sports Club.
Earlier, Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam propelled Pakistan to 165/3 in 20 overs. Rizwan remained unbeaten at 91 while Babar scored 52. Opener Sharjeel Khan made 18 in his comeback match.
Green Shirts defended the total with ease courtesy of a player of the match performance from Hasan Ali, who bagged his career-best figures of 4/18.
After a terrible defeat in the second T20I, Pakistan opted to bowl first with three changes in the final XI.
Green Shirts were hoping for a blistering start from Sharjeel, however, he didn’t trouble the scorers and had to depart in the fifth over.
The command was then taken forward by Rizwan and skipper Babar. The duo added 126 runs for the second wicket. Rizwan (five fours and three sixes)scored sixth half-century of his career while Babar (five fours) posted his 18th.
The 26-year-old Babar also became the fastest to reach 2000 runs in T20I cricket as he achieved the landmark in the 52nd innings.
For Zimbabwe, Luke Jongwe was the standout bowler, claiming figures of 3/35.
Zimbabwe started the chase positively with Wesley Madhevere and Tarisai Musakanda scoring 37 for first wicket until Hasan Ali removed Musakanda for 10.
Green Shirts had a scare after Madhevere was joined by Tadiwanashe Marumani. They continued to score boundaries at vital moments. Madhevere scored his second fifty of the shortest format while Marumani batted at a strike-rate of 134.
Babar brought Mohammad Hasnain to bowl 14th over and provided a crucial breakthrough of Marumani, who scored 35 off 26. Madhevere was the next man to depart, scoring 59 off 47.
Zimbabwe’s inning didn’t get going as they continued to lost wickets. They managed to score 141/7 in 20 overs. For Pakistan, Hasan finished with figures of 4/18 in four overs while Haris Rauf bagged 2/34.
Mohammad Rizwan was awarded player of the series for his brilliant batting display as he registered two fifties in three matches.
Both teams will now lock horn in a two-match Test series, starting from April 29 at the same venue.
