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That's it from this contest. Pakistan has started this series with a win. The next game of this T20I Tri-Series, 2025, will be played between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe on 20th November 2025 at 1 pm GMT. You can join us an hour early for the pre-match buildup and updates. Cheers for now.

Salman Agha, Pakistan’s skipper, said it was a close game and admitted that the team did not start well with either batting or bowling. He praised the spinners, noting that they have consistently performed under pressure and helped the team get back into the game. Agha added that he anticipated a modest total, hoping to be in the 160–180 range. While acknowledging a shaky start in the Powerplay, he expressed satisfaction with the win and emphasized that the team must be ruthless in upcoming matches.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza believed the wicket required some partnerships to grind out a decent score. Raza stated that they should have posted around 160 on that wicket and that Pakistan's quality spinners made it tough for them. He mentioned that there wasn't much turn and the pitch was slightly stoppy, with the spinners not getting much pace. Raza was positive about his team's performance, citing more positives than negatives, but felt they needed to work on consistency. As a captain, he wants his team to cross the finish line and is keen to find solutions to take the team forward in the sport.

Mohammad Nawaz has been named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance. He expresses his satisfaction with the contribution and is pleased to start the series on a winning note. Nawaz believes this victory will boost the team's confidence and provide momentum for the upcoming matches. He acknowledges the challenges of bowling in such conditions but emphasizes that he focused on keeping things simple, with the pitch offering some assistance. Reflecting on Rawalpindi’s reputation as a high-scoring venue, he notes that today was a bit different, with the game taking a more balanced turn. In T20 cricket, Nawaz points out, momentum can shift quickly, so staying on top of the game is crucial. He concludes by dedicating the award to his family and children.

Presentation...

Earlier, Zimbabwe managed to scrape to 147, with Pakistan's bowlers staging a terrific comeback, led by the spinners who squeezed the scoring rate and took regular wickets in the middle overs. Zimbabwe's openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani got their team off to a flyer, adding 59 in the powerplay and racing to 72 in 8 overs. However, Mohammad Nawaz's removal of Marumani for 30 turned the game, and Zimbabwe's middle order failed to capitalize, with Bennett falling just short of a half-century. Sikandar Raza's cameo of 34 steadied the ship, but it was too little too late. For Pakistan, Nawaz was brilliant with 2/22, while Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub also chipped in with wickets.

The Zimbabwean bowlers, led by Brad Evans, put up a great fight, with Evans himself picking up crucial wickets and conceding just 26 runs. Richard Ngarava, Tinotenda Maposa and Graeme Cremer also contributed with wickets, but ultimately, Zimbabwe was short by 10-15 runs, one would feel.

Pakistan's chase lost momentum when Brad Evans struck twice in the 4th over, sending Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam back to the pavilion. Despite being 54 for 4 in the 10th over, Pakistan's middle order batted well, with Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz chipping in with crucial runs to secure a 5-wicket win in the final over.

Pakistan has secured a 5-wicket win with 4 balls to spare, thanks to a solid batting performance from their middle order, successfully chasing down Zimbabwe's 148-run target.

19.2FOUR! Another boundary to wrap the game up. Full toss wide of off, Mohammad Nawaz moves to his leg and cuts it past point for a boundary to seal the game. Pakistan has won this contest by 5 wickets.

19.1FOUR! Now that'll settle the game here. Full and wide of off, Mohammad Nawaz plays this well and just opens the face of his bat to guide this past the keeper to his right for a boundary.

Pakistan needs 5 off the final over.

18.6Good length around middle and leg, Mohammad Nawaz flicks it away for a single.

18.5On a length around off, Usman Khan hits this to deep point for one.

18.4FOUR! Poor again in the field from Zimbabwe and the pressure has got the better of the Chevrons here in the field. Slower one, on a length around middle and off, Usman Khan swings, gets an outside edge that drops in front of backwad point who makes a mess of it and misfields it for a boundary.

18.4NO BALL! Brad Evans bowls one over the waist and Nawaz hits it away to deep mid-wicket for a single. Free hit up next for Pakistan.

18.3DROPPED! Nawaz has been dropped at deep mid-wicket by Brian Bennett and they run two as well. Good length, around middle and leg, Mohammad Nawaz slogs this high in the air towards the deep mid-wicket region. Brian Bennett moves to his left and gets underneath the ball but fails to settle himself and ends up dropping it. This might just cost Zimbabwe the game here.

15 needed off the last 10 balls.

18.2On a length around off, Usman Khan shimmies down the track and smashes this to long off for a single.

18.1Too full, on middle and leg, Mohammad Nawaz hammers this to long on for one.

17.6Slower one, on middle and leg, Mohammad Nawaz looks to hit this around mid-wicket but gets outdone but the slowness of this delivery. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and the batters run one.

17.5Short and on middle and off. Mohammad Nawaz punts this back to the bowler.

17.4Short and wide of off, Usman Khan slaps this to long on for one.

17.3On a length around middle and off, Usman Khan swings and gets an outside edge towards the third man region. The fielder fumbles a bit and that was enough for the batters to sneak an extra run here.

17.3TWO WIDES! On a length, down the leg, Mohammad Nawaz shuffles across and looks to ramp but misses. The keeper fails to gather this cleanly as well and the batters take an extra run.

17.2What an effort from Sikandar Raza at covers. On a length around off, Usman Khan looks to thump this past cover but hits it a bit too close to the fielder at cover. Raza dives to his right and gets a bit of hand to it, taking out the sting from it. Single taken.

17.1Back of a length around off, Usman Khan goes on the back ffoot and attempts to cut it away but misses out.

16.6Good length, slanting down the leg, Mohammad Nawaz misses out on the flick and is hit on the pads.

16.5SIX! That was much needed here for Pakistan. On a length around middle and leg, Mohammad Nawaz clears his front foot from the line of the delivery and smashes this up and over the long on fence for a biggie.

16.4Good length on off, Usman looksto cut this late but gets it chopped off the under edge towards the right of the keeper for one.

16.3On a length on off, Mohammad Nawaz pushes this through cover for a single.

16.2Good length on off, Mohammad Nawaz dabs this around cover for no run.

16.1Good length on the pads, Usman Khan flicks this to deep square leg for one.

Mohammad Nawaz walks out next.

15.6OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! On a length, going down the leg, Fakhar Zaman looks to get cheeky and ramp it over short fine leg after shuffling across the stumps. FZ ends up with a clip into the hands of the keeper. Brendan Taylor moves to his right and takes a good low catch to send Fakhar Zaman back.

15.5FOUR! Fakhar Zaman is stepping up on the accelerator once again here. Short and wide of off, Fakhar Zaman plays this behind his body and guides this over short third for four here.

Zimbabwe's Richard Ngarava, who took a bit of a knock, has received treatment and is looking to continue his good work.

15.4Back of a length on middle and off, Fakhar Zaman thumps this straight back to the bowler in a flash. Richard Ngarava tries to get away from the flight of it but fails and gets hit on his bowling arm. The ball deflects towards mid-wicket off Ngarava's arm and the batters take two.

15.3Good length, wide of off, Fakhar Zaman tentatively pokes at it but gets beaten.

15.2Back of a length on middle and off, Usman Tariq rolls this to long on for one.

15.1Good length, around off, Usman Khan cuts this to deep point for a couple here.

14.6FOUR! Fakhar Zaman is on the move and how, here in Pindi. Tossed up on middle and leg, Fakhar Zaman swings and connects right from the middle of his bat. Hits this in the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on and adds four more to his tally.

14.5Short of a length on middle and off, Usman Khan goes deep and looks to slap it away but gets it toe-poked to mid on for a single.

14.4Quicker one, onto the pads, Usman Khan tucks this through mid-wicket for one.

14.3Quicker one, on middle and leg, Fakhar Zaman flicks it away for one.

14.2SIX! HIGH AND HANDSOME! Flighted around the pads, Fakhar Zaman clears his front foot from the line of the delivery and slogs this deep into the crowd towards the long on region for a huge six.

14.1Tossed up, onto the pads, Fakhar Zaman works this gently through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

13.6Good length on the pads, Fakhar Zaman nudges this through mid-wicket for a single.

13.5SIX! Now that's some strike from the southpaw. Pitched up, around middle and off, Fakhar Zaman stays leg side to it and flat bats it up and over the fielder at long off fence for a massively hit six.

13.4LEG BYE! Slower one, going down the leg, Usman Khan jumps down the track and looks to flick it away but misses out and deflects it off his pads to short mid-wicket for a leg bye.

13.3Good length wide of off, Fakhar Zaman guides this through backward point for one.

13.2Low full toss, on off, Fakhar Zaman rolls this to the right of Brad Evans at extra cover and sets off for a suicidal single. Brad Evans throws it in a hurry towardsthe non-striker's end and misses by some margin, allowing an extra here.

13.1On a length around middle and leg, Usman Tariq works this to deep mid-wicket for one.

12.6Tossed up, on the pads, Usman flicks this through square leg for a single.

12.5FOUR! Another boundary from the bat of Usman Khan. Short of a length on middle and leg, Usman Khan goes deep inside the crease and pulls it over the fielder at mid-wicket for a boundary.

12.4BYE! Tossed up, wide of off, Fakhar Zaman looks to loft this over cover but misses out. The keeper fails to gather this cleanly as well and the batters take a bye as the ball is deflected to short third.

12.3Quicker and flatter on middle and leg, Usman Khan rolls this to long on for one.

12.2Fuller on the pads, Fakhar Zaman works this through mid-wicket for a single.

12.1Tossed up, on off, Usman Khan flicks this through square leg for one. This one kept low but Usman did well to flick it away.

11.6Fuller, on the pads, Usman Khan nudges this to short fine leg for one.

11.5Quicker one, on off. Usman cuts it to point.

11.4FOUR! Usman is looking in good touch. Short of a length on middle and off, Usman Khan plants his front foot away from the line of the delivery and pulls this flat and into the gap towards the cow corner for four.

11.3Flipper on middle and leg, Fakhar Zaman smashes this down to long on for one.

11.2Short of a length on middle and off, Usman Khan goes deep inside the crease and pulls this to deep mid-wicket for a single.

11.1Fired on off, Usman Khan blocks it out.

10.6Short and into the batter, Usman Khan nudges this through mid-wicket for one.

10.5Darted into the batter, Fakhar Zaman nudges this through mid-wicket for one.

10.4Quicker one, wide outside off, Fakhar Zaman swings and misses.

10.3Fired onto the pads, going down the leg. Fakhar Zaman looks to gently tuckt his around mid-wicket but misses out and is hit on the pads.

10.2Pushed through, down the leg, Usman Khan comes inside the line and just tickles this fine towards the fine leg region for three here.

10.1Floated around off, Fakhar Zaman plays this late and guides this through point for one.

9.6Flatter googly, drifted down the leg. Usman Khan lets it go.

9.5Looped up full, around off. Zaman lifts it toward the wide long-off region and sharp work in the deep keeps it to a single.

9.4Short and wide outside off. Usman Khan cuts it to deep cover for a single to get off the mark.

Drinks Break! After posting a modest score, Zimbabwe have been clinical with the ball, taking regular wickets to reduce Pakistan to 54/4 in the 10th over. With the momentum firmly on their side, Zimbabwe will look to keep up the pressure and continue taking wickets. Pakistan, on the other hand, will need a solid partnership to stabilize the chase and get back on track. Also, Usman Khan comes into bat at number 6.

9.3OUT! CAUGHT! SAIM AYUB HOLES OUT! Graeme Cremer gets the big fish! Tosses it very full, attacking the stumps. Ayub sits low and slogs it off the cue end toward the deep mid-wicket region. Tashinga Musekiwa, there, takes a good catch and Pakistan lose their fourth.

9.2Shortish googly, around off. Zaman steers it toward point for one.

9.1Flatter leggie, turning into the middle and leg. Ayub goes back and works it toward deep mid-wicket for a single.

Graeme Cremer comes into the attack.

8.6Tossed up full, on off. Ayub eases the drive to long-off for a single.

8.5Flatter, around off. Zaman knocks it through the gap at covers for a single.

8.4Tad short, around off. Ayub cuts it to deep point for one.

8.3Flatter and quicker arm ball, angled in, and goes past the leg pole. Ayub swings and misses.

8.3NO BALL! Flatter arm ball, drifting onto the pad. Zaman nudges it toward backward square leg for one. Raza has overstepped here. No Ball given. Free hit coming up.

8.2Shortish on the middle. Ayub pulls it toward deep mid-wicket for one.

8.1TWO LEG BYES! Flatter arm ball, angled into the leg pole. Ayub goes back for the pull, but gets the under-edge that rolls toward fine leg for a couple of leg byes.

7.6Flatter and quicker on off. Ayub hangs back and punches it past the bowler toward long-off for a single.

7.5Tossed up full, just outside off. Ayub gets across, looking to sweep but misses, and gets hit in front. Appeal from the bowler but turned down.

7.4Flatter on the leg. Zaman nudges it toward backward square leg for a single.

7.3Flighted full, and angled into the middle. Ayub pushes it off the outer half toward the deep point region for a single.

7.2Tossed up full, on off. Zaman pushes this to long-off for one.

7.1Fuller and quicker, just outside off. Zaman hits it on the bounce to the man at short extra cover.

6.6FOUR! SMASHED! Tad short, on the middle. Ayub goes back and hammers the pull toward the wide long-on region for a thumping hit.

6.5Flatter on the middle. Zaman turns it toward mid-wicket and takes one.

6.4Tossed up full, on off. Ayub eases it to long-off for a single.

6.3Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Zaman nudges it toward backward square leg for one.

6.2Fuller and drifted down the leg. Zaman glances it to fine leg for a couple.

6.1Tosses it on a length and spins away around off. Zaman pushes at it and does not connect.

5.6Back of a length delivery, around off. Zaman steers it toward the deep point region for a single.

5.5Fuller than a good length, around off. Zaman drives it off the cue end toward mid-off.

Fakhar Zaman walks in at number 5.

5.4OUT! LBW! Tinotenda Maposa gets the Pakistan skipper! Another appeal from Zimbabwe, and up goes the finger. Yorker length delivery, attacking the stumps. Salman tries to keep it out, but it hits the toe before getting in contact with the bat. Salman is unsure and takes the review. The ultra-edge shows it as hitting the pad first, and the ball tracking shows Three Reds. The on-field decision of OUT stays. Pakistan are three down.

5.3Back of a length and outside off. Ayub slashes the cut to the man at deep point for a single.

5.2Fuller than a good length and pushed across the batter. Ayub gets on the front foot to drive, but gets the outside edge that rolls on the bounce to the short third fielder.

5.1Short of a good length, just outside off. Ayub comes forward and pushes it toward the extra cover fielder.

4.6Back of a length on off. Ayub gets on top of the bounce and drops this into the off-side for one.

4.5Short of a good length, on the middle. Salman gets across and works it through square leg for a single.

Salman Agha comes in at number 4.

4.4OUT! LBW! Second wicket in the over for Evans, and it's a big one! Huge appeal from the bowler and up goes the finger. Evans bowls a skiddy, good-length delivery, nips back into the middle and leg stump line. Babar Azam looks to flick it across the line, but misses and gets pinned in front. Babar has a word with Ayub and sends it upstairs. The ball tracking shows it as clipping the leg pole, and the on-field decision of OUT stays. Babar Azam departs for a duck. Pakistan are two down.

4.3Fuller than a length, on off. Babar Azam comes forward and slices the drive to the man at backward point.

4.2PEACH! Good length delivery, just outside off, and seams late to beat the defence of Babar Azam.

Babar Azam comes in at number 3.

4.1OUT! TIMBER! Brad Evans draws first blood! Good length delivery, jags back into the middle and leg stump line. Sahibzada Farhan makes room and looks to defend but the ball sneaks through the gap and rattles the stumps. Pakistan lose their first wicket in the chase.

3.6SIX! ALL THE WAY! Back of a length, angled into the hip. Ayub gets inside the line and helps it over the man at long leg for a maximum. He was looking for a similar shot on the previous ball, but connected well on this one.

3.5Ouch! Short of a length, angled into the middle. Ayub gets inside the line and tries to help it over fine leg, but the ball has some extra bounce and hits Ayub around the grill of his helmet. The physio comes for a concussion check. Ayub looks fine, though, to carry on.  Luckily, the ball does not roll onto the stumps.

3.4Back of a length, on off. Ayub shapes up to pull over mid-wicket but changes his mind and dabs it toward backward point.

3.3Pace off on a length, and just outside off. Ayub looks to cut and misses.

3.3WIDE! Good length delivery angled down the leg. Ayub gets inside the line, and looks to flick but does not connect. Wide given.

3.2BYE! Short of a good length, it jags back sharply into the middle and beats Farhan on the inside edge. A fumble from the keeper, Taylor, allows them to take a bye.

3.1FOUR! UP AND AWAY! Fuller than a good length and plenty of width outside off. Farhan slashes hard and carves it toward the deep backward point region for four runs.

2.6Back of a length, nips back into the middle. Ayub hops and cuts it toward the man at the backward point.

2.5Nicely bowled! Good length delivery, angled in, and moves away late to beat the outside edge of Ayub once again.

2.4Short of a good length, shapes away, and goes close to the outside edge of Ayub.

2.3Back of a length, around off. Ayub hangs back and cuts it toward the deep third region for a couple.

2.2Fuller than a length, just outside off. Ayub drives it gently past the bowler and toward mid-off.

2.1Full-length delivery on the pad. Farhan flicks it off the cue end toward deep square leg for one.

Brad Evans comes into the attack.

1.6Low full toss on the leg. Farhan clips it toward deep mid-wicket for a single.

1.5Back of a length, on the middle and leg. Farhan pulls it off the inner half, toward the long leg region and gets back for the second.

1.4Good length delivery, attacking the sticks. Farhan defends it back to the bowler.

1.3FOUR! CRUNCHED! Overpitched outside off. Farhan leans into the drive and hammers it through the gap at extra cover and mid-off for a cracking boundary.

1.2Full-length delivery on off. Farhan drills it hard and to the left of the bowler, who makes half a stop in his follow-through.

1.1Pitched full, on off. Ayub drives it gently toward the gap at extra cover for a single.

Tinotenda Maposa will share the attack.

0.6Back of a length, angling across the batter. Farhan reaches for it and mistimes the cut to the extra cover fielder.

0.5FOUR! OVER THE TOP! Fuller than a length, just outside off. Farhan picks it early and lifts it over the infield toward long-off for a lovely boundary.

0.4Back of a length, just outside off. Farhan rides the bounce and punches it toward the extra cover fielder.

0.3Short of a good length, just outside off. Farhan gets on top of the bounce and stabs this into the off-side.

0.2Short of a good length and seams away, around off. Farhan throws his bat at it, looking to cut but fails to connect.

0.1Back of a length, aronud off. Farhan rides the bounce and knocks this into covers.

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Team Rankings

RankTeamPointsRating
1Australia3732124
2England4469112
3South Africa3107111
4India3881108
5New Zealand240996
6Sri Lanka236488
7Pakistan205082
8West Indies203670
9Bangladesh164861
10Ireland15230
11Zimbabwe20812
12Afghanistan6210
RankTeamPointsRating
1India4745122
2New Zealand4828112
3Australia4134109
4Pakistan4294105
5Sri Lanka4392100
6South Africa370898
7Afghanistan265795
8England343286
9West Indies311178
10Bangladesh288276
11Zimbabwe129154
12Ireland93852
13Scotland152246
14USA166844
15Netherlands142540
16Oman88635
17Nepal95927
18Namibia70721
19Canada35716
20United Arab Emirates39611
RankTeamPointsRating
1India18251272
2Australia11199267
3England11609258
4New Zealand13318251
5South Africa11751240
6West Indies14424236
7Pakistan16164234
8Sri Lanka10048228
9Bangladesh14269223
10Afghanistan9895220
11Ireland6821201
12Zimbabwe12828200
13Netherlands6366182
14Scotland4178182
15Namibia6344181
16United Arab Emirates10584176
17Nepal7384176
18USA5769175
19Canada5374154
20Oman7140152
21Uganda7952142
22Papua New Guinea2718136
23Kuwait5441130
24Hong Kong6602127
25Malaysia6508123
26Bahrain7544120
27Jersey2819117
28Italy1725115
29Qatar4666114
30Bermuda3040113
31Spain1872110
32Saudi Arabia4245109
33Kenya5074106
34Tanzania4082100
35Germany192487
36Nigeria337779
37Singapore284477
38Guernsey207177
39Cayman Islands192174
40Austria405471
41Denmark126270
42Norway209570
43Portugal133367
44Japan251866
45Belgium205957
46Cambodia136557
47Switzerland108649
48Finland113049
49Argentina62748
50Sweden104848
51Malawi201947
52Botswana154747
53Isle of Man60446
54France110946
55Thailand165446
56Romania154445
57Bahamas97242
58Czechia91141
59Cook Islands55239
60Philippines82738
61Rwanda234337
62Fiji38735
63Vanuatu56135
64Cyprus78933
65Indonesia210632
66Ghana57030
67Sierra Leone50430
68Hungary97129
69Samoa67229
70Estonia66528
71Malta108526
72Mozambique51826
73Swaziland49126
74Israel17825
75Panama31821
76Belize16421
77Gibraltar49419
78Luxembourg43218
79Costa Rica21817
80Bhutan33616
81Mexico28716
82Suriname11915
83Serbia31511
84Maldives21410
85Brazil949
86Cameroon868
87Bulgaria1917
88Myanmar1446
89Korea946
90St.Helena446
91China295
92Lesotho242
93Turkiye262
94Gambia61
95Slovenia00
95Seychelles00
95Mali00
95Greece00
95Croatia00
95Mongolia00
95Timor-Leste00
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