Pakistan reach tri-series final after hard-fought win over Zimbabwe
Pakistan knocked Zimbabwe out of the Twenty20 tri-series in Harare yesterday, beating the hosts by seven wickets with just five deliveries to spare.
Opener Fakhar Zaman topscored for Pakistan with 47 before captain Sarfraz Ahmed overcame a spirited Zimbabwean fightback and saw his side home with an unbeaten 38.
Their efforts meant that Zimbabwean all-rounder Solomon Mire’s earlier innings earlier went in vain.
Mire struck 94, the highest score by a Zimbabwean in T20 internationals, but Zimbabwe’s 162-4 was not enough to overcome the world’s topranked T20 side.
“We have a very deep batting line-up, so we were confident we could chase it,” Zaman said. Pakistan were given a rapid start by Zaman and fellow opener Haris Sohail.
Sohail holed out soon afterwards, but Zaman, mixing aggression with an ability to manoeuvre the ball around the field, he cracked four fours and a six.
“In the start in T20 I was hitting every ball in my striking zone, but after playing eight to 10 games I sat with some senior players like Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed, and spoke about my gameplans with them,” Zaman said.
“I realised that I could play proper cricket shots and be successful, and that’s what I’ve been doing recently.”
He may have learnt even more from Sarfraz’s innings of calm precision that kept Pakistan up with an asking rate that hovered around eight for much of the match. Executing his attacking strokes perfectly, Sarfraz found the gaps and the boundaries whenever they were needed.
Where Ahmed’s innings was one of finesse, Mire’s 63-ball 94 for Zimbabwe showcased big-hitting ability.
Mire started slowly, but hit his first six into the stands beyond long leg to move into the 20s and was soon smashing Pakistan’s attack to all corners of the ground.
Mire’s fourth six took him to a 32-ball half century, his first in this format.
He eventually fell for 94, but his 64-run third wicket stand with Tarisai Musakanda boosted Zimbabwe to a respectable total after two poor outings in this tournament.
It was not enough to beat Pakistan, however, who are now assured a place in Sunday’s final against Australia.