Pakistan T20I Tri-Series - 2025-26

Tri-Series: Pakistan Beat Zimbabwe By 5 Wickets (Scorecard)

Mohammad Nawaz produced a crucial all-round performance to rescue Pakistan in Rawalpindi, first triggering Zimbabwe’s dramatic middle-order collapse before returning at the death with a decisive 21 off 12 balls to guide the hosts to a nervy win with four balls left in the chase.

Zimbabwe, who had been motoring at 72 for 1 in the 8th over and were looking set for a total well above 180, imploded spectacularly to lose seven wickets for 37 runs and finish on 147 for 8.

Pakistan’s spinners — led by Nawaz — seized control in the middle overs to dry up scoring and force errors, as Zimbabwe slipped from 72 for 1 to 128 for 8 by the 19th over.

Pakistan crawled to 31 for 3 by the end of the powerplay and were further troubled when Saim Ayub fell to Graeme Cremer’s legspin in the 10th over, pushing the required rate to nine. Cremer, returning to T20Is after more than seven years and 122 matches — a record — finished with 1 for 27 from three overs.

At 31 for 3 and then again at the halfway mark, Pakistan looked in serious trouble. But Fakhar Zaman, playing his comeback T20I innings, steadied the chase with a vital 44 off 32. His 61-run partnership with Usman Khan dragged Pakistan back into contention.