Zimbabwe secured a dramatic two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third and final T20I in Bulawayo, narrowly chasing down a target of 133 with just one ball to spare. Despite already losing the series, Zimbabwe's spirited performance provided a consolatory win in a low-scoring encounter.
Pakistan, batting first after making four changes to their lineup, struggled to build momentum. Early strikes from Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza left them reeling at 19/3 within the first four overs. Contributions from Tayyab Tahir (21 off 14), captain Salman Agha (32 off 37), and Arafat Minhas (22* off 26) helped the visitors recover slightly, finishing at 132/7 in their 20 overs. Muzarabani and Masakadza impressed with the ball, picking up crucial wickets to keep Pakistan in check.
Chasing 133, Zimbabwe started aggressively, with Brian Bennett (43 off 35) and Tadiwanashe Marumani finding regular boundaries. The pair added 40 runs in just three overs before Marumani was dismissed by Salman. Bennett continued his attacking approach, pushing Zimbabwe to a comfortable 56/1 by the end of the powerplay. However, Pakistan clawed their way back, dismissing both Bennett and Dion Myers in quick succession and reducing Zimbabwe to 94/5.
Sikandar Raza attempted to stabilise the innings with 19 off 20 but fell at a critical juncture, leaving Zimbabwe needing 21 runs from the final two overs. Wellington Masakadza’s boundary off Abbas Afridi provided a glimmer of hope, but his dismissal brought debutant Tinotenda Maposa to the crease with 12 runs required from the last over.
Maposa delivered under pressure, smashing a four and a six off the first two balls from Jahandad Khan. A single brought the scores level, but a missed run-out chance added to the tension. Jahandad struck back with a wicket, but Richard Ngarava kept his cool to take the winning single, sealing a memorable victory for Zimbabwe.
Brief Scores:
- Pakistan: 132/7 in 20 overs (Salman Agha 32, Arafat Minhas 22*; Blessing Muzarabani 2-25).
- Zimbabwe: 133/8 in 19.5 overs (Brian Bennett 43, Sikandar Raza 19; Abbas Afridi 3-24).
Zimbabwe’s remarkable win highlighted their resilience, as they overcame hurdles to finish the series on a high note.