Thriller spinner Usman Tariq’s hat-trick propelled Pakistan into the T20 tri-series closing with a 69-run victory in opposition to Zimbabwe on Sunday.
Tariq grabbed 4-18 in a mesmerising spell of spin bowling as Zimbabwe was dismissed for 126 in 19 overs at hand Pakistan its third successive win within the match, which additionally includes Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe’s Ryan Burl hit 67 not out off 49 balls and shared a 44-run last-wicket stand earlier than Richard Ngarava was run out.
Pakistan earlier rode on half centuries from Babar Azam (74) and Sahibzada Farhan (63) to put up 195-5 in its 20 overs after captain Salman Ali Agha gained the toss and elected to bat. Fakhar Zaman made a speedy 27 not out off 10 balls in a late flurry for Pakistan.
In reply, Zimbabwe’s prime order collapsed in opposition to Pakistan’s tempo contained in the Energy Play, and it slipped to 25-3 earlier than the center order was baffled by Tariq’s hard-to-read deliveries.
Tariq had Tony Munyonga caught at brief superb leg, and clear bowled Tashinga Musekiwa. Babar then caught Wellington Masakadza at mid-off to offer the off-spinner his hat trick as Zimbabwe slumped from 60-4 to 60-7 within the tenth over.
Tariq, enjoying in solely his second T20 since making his debut in opposition to South Africa earlier this month, turned the fourth Pakistan bowler to take a T20 hat-trick after Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Hasnain and Mohammad Nawaz. He capped his excellent evening at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium when he bowled Tinotenda Maposa with an ideal googly.
“There’s a giant course of behind my (bowling) motion,” Tariq stated. “I must handle tempo and spin variations. I wasn’t anticipating a giant shot on the hat-trick ball, due to the batter.”
Babar and Farhan dominated Zimbabwe’s spinners and tempo of their 103-run stand for the second wicket after Saim Ayub (13) was dismissed by Brad Evans within the third over.
Farhan, who hit a career-best unbeaten 80 in opposition to Sri Lanka on Saturday, raised his second successive half century off 35 balls and Babar pushed the scoring price after scoring a run-a-ball 34, however obtained his subsequent 40 runs off simply 18 deliveries.
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Skipper Sikandar Raza (2-39) dismissed each batters within the loss of life overs. Farhan was bowled by a supply that skidded by after which Babar holed out whereas going for a giant hit.
Zaman, who batted at No. 7, smashed Evans for 3 sixes and a boundary in a 25-run final over to offer Pakistan an ideal end.
“I believed other than the final over, it was a typical Pindi wicket,” Raza stated. “For those who’re not forward of the sport, groups will discover you out … the style we’ve performed spin we will’t keep on like that. We’ll assist one another out and discover our ft.”
Sri Lanka, which has misplaced each its video games up to now, will play Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Printed on Nov 23, 2025