Pakistan versus Zimbabwe T20I Series, 2024

3rd T20I

Zimbabwe has defeated the Pakistan team in a thrilling low-scoring encounter

Pakistan scored 132/7 in 20 overs, where as Zimbabwe scored 133/8 in 19.5 overs.

So, finally Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by 2 wickets.

In a thrilling low-scoring encounter that went down to the wire, Zimbabwe triumphed over Pakistan by two wickets for a consolation victory in the third and final T20I in Bulawayo on Thursday (December 5).

Pakistan, restricted to a modest 132/7, were unable to defend their total as Zimbabwe, propelled by a strong 43 off 35 from Brian Bennett, chased it down with a ball to spare.

Debutant Tinotenda Maposa’s crucial cameo (12 off 4) in the final over sealed the win for Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe started the chase brightly, with Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani hitting regular boundaries, although Marumani was given a reprieve early on.

The opening stand raced to 40, with seven fours struck in the first three overs, before Salman Agha removed Marumani.

Bennett continued to attack, guiding Zimbabwe to 56/1 at the end of the powerplay.

By the 9th over, Zimbabwe were well-placed at 70/1, but a flurry of wickets—Bennett and Dion Myers both fell in successive overs—brought Pakistan back into the game.

Wessly Madhevere and Ryan Burl also fell cheaply, leaving Zimbabwe at 94/5.

Sikandar Raza fought hard, but his dismissal for 19 off 20 left Zimbabwe needing 21 runs from the last two overs.

Wellington Masakadza’s crucial boundary off Abbas Afridi reduced the equation to 12 from the final over.

Maposa then delivered a match-winning performance, striking a four and a six off the first two balls of the over, and taking a single to level the scores.

A missed run-out chance followed, but Jahandad Khan responded by dismissing Tashinga Musekiwa.

However, Richard Ngarava remained calm, taking the winning single.

Earlier, Pakistan, having already clinched the series, made four changes to their lineup, bringing in Sahibzada Farhan, Qasim Akram, Arafat Minhas, and Mohammad Hasnain.

They opted to bat but were quickly in trouble, reduced to 19/3 in just four overs.

Blessing Muzarabani and Masakadza did the damage, sending the top three—Farhan, Omair Yousuf, and Usman Khan—back for just 9 runs between them.

Tayyab Tahir’s counter-attacking 21 off 14 balls, including three fours and a six, and a solid partnership with captain Salman, provided some resistance.

However, the stand was broken when Maposa dismissed Tahir.

Akram’s quickfire 20 off 15 balls helped Pakistan reach 92/6, but Minhas (22* off 26) and Afridi (15 off 14) managed to push the score past 130.