BULAWAYO: Pakistan clinched a dominating victory against Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the second T20I played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday, to claim the three-match series. The 10-wicket victory led Pakistan to an unassailable 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe in the ongoing three-match series.
Zimbabwe after batting first put a mere 57-run total on the board in the 13th over which Pakistan achieved inside the batting powerplay without losing a single wicket.
Chasing the target, openers Saim Ayub scored a quickfire 36-run knock with six boundaries including one six, and Omair Yousuf made 22 runs, hitting six fours and one six.
The host side while batting first received a decent start before Marumani’s dismissal off Abbas Afridi in the fifth over to break a 37-run partnership. He scored 16 off 14 deliveries with the help of three boundaries. Fellow opener Bennett lost his wicket to Haris Rauf and remained the top-scorer for Zimbabwe with a 14-ball 21.
The back-to-back dismissals led the hosts to slip from 37/2 to 57 all out with major wickets clinched by the spinners.
Left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem bowled the domination spell for the green shirts with a bowling figure of 5/3 in 2.4 overs — the best by a Pakistan bowler in men’s T20Is, after Umar Gul’s 5/6.
Right-arm pacer Abbas bagged two wickets, while Rauf, Salman Ali Agha, and Abrar Ahmed chipped in with a wicket apiece.
