Pakistan cruises to opening T20 win over Zimbabwe

An unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 65 by Tayyab Tahir and Irfan Khan arrange Pakistan for a 57-run victory over Zimbabwe on Sunday within the first of three Twenty20 internationals.

Pakistan, which is chasing a white-ball double in Zimbabwe having already received the ODI collection 2-1, received the toss in Bulawayo and posted 165-4 whereas Zimbabwe was all out for 108 in 15.3 overs.

The vacationer was 100-4 with 34 deliveries remaining at Queens Sports activities Membership when Tahir and Khan got here collectively to slam a speedy 65 runs as they punished poor bowling and careless fielding.

Tahir made 39, together with a six and 4 fours, to be joint top-scorer with Usman Khan, who struck 4 boundaries, two of them sixes.

Irfan Khan completed on 27 from 15 balls with three fours.

“Irfan and I have been speaking to one another and determined to run arduous, hit each ball and if we can not make a six, then run,” participant of the match Tahir informed reporters.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, who top-scored for his facet with 39, mentioned: “To leak 40-odd runs in the previous couple of overs shifted the momentum. To be all out for 108 is a very robust capsule to swallow.”

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The Pakistan-born all-rounder was the decide of the bowlers, together with his misleading spin capturing the wicket of Pakistan skipper Salman Agha (13).

In reply, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Raza raised Zimbabwean hopes once they placed on 59 runs for the third wicket.

However quickly after Marumani was run out by Usman Khan for 33, Raza was caught at backward level by Saim Ayub and the innings collapsed with the final 4 wickets falling for less than 13 runs.

After Jahandad Khan claimed the prize wicket of Raza, Sufiyan Muqeem wreaked havoc with the Zimbabwe tail, capturing three wickets.

The 2 sides meet once more on Tuesday and Thursday.