Pakistan vs Zimbabwe T20I Scorecard
Introduction: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe T20I Scorecard
Match Scorecard: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I
Series: Pakistan Tour of Zimbabwe 2024
Match: 2nd T20I
Date: April 21, 2024
Venue: Harare Sports Club
Toss: Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field
Result: Pakistan won by 9 runs
Table of Contents
Pakistan Innings: 193/4 in 20 Overs
| Batter | How Out | Bowler | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam (c) | c Jongwe | b Ngarava | 44 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 129.41 |
| Mohammad Rizwan (wk) | c Marumani | b Muzarabani | 29 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 116.00 |
| Usman Khan | c Bennett | b Muzarabani | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 87.50 |
| Fakhar Zaman | b Ngarava | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 114.28 | |
| Shadab Khan | not out | 41 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 205.00 | |
| Imad Wasim | not out | 26 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 152.94 | |
| Extras | 38 | ||||||
| (b 0, lb 3, w 12, nb 1, p 0) | |||||||
| Total | (4 wickets, 20 Overs) | 193 |
Did Not Bat: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed.
Fall of Wickets: 1-58 (Rizwan, 8.2 ov), 2-72 (Usman, 10.1 ov), 3-86 (Fakhar, 11.5 ov), 4-111 (Babar, 14.5 ov).
Zimbabwe Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ | Wides | No-Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blessing Muzarabani | 4 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 | 2 | 0 |
| Richard Ngarava | 4 | 0 | 42 | 2 | 10.50 | 4 | 0 |
| Luke Jongwe | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 10.00 | 2 | 0 |
| Wessly Madhevere | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Bennett | 2 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 9.50 | 0 | 0 |
| Sikandar Raza | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 8.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Wellington Masakadza | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 | 0 | 0 |
Powerplay (1-6): 48/0
50 runs: 7.1 overs
100 runs: 13.2 overs
150 runs: 18.3 overs
Zimbabwe Innings: 184/10 in 19.5 Overs
| Batter | How Out | Bowler | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tadiwanashe Marumani | c Rizwan | b Shaheen | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Brian Bennett | c Rizwan | b Amir | 37 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 168.18 |
| Wessly Madhevere | c Rizwan | b Shaheen | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Sikandar Raza (c) | c Usman | b Imad | 32 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 145.45 |
| Sean Williams | b Naseem | 15 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 136.36 | |
| Johnathan Campbell | c Shadab | b Naseem | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 88.88 |
| Luke Jongwe | b Shaheen | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 128.57 | |
| Blessing Muzarabani | c Rizwan | b Amir | 25 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 156.25 |
| Wellington Masakadza | not out | 17 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 154.54 | |
| Richard Ngarava | run out (Rizwan) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 | |
| Extras | 27 | ||||||
| (b 0, lb 3, w 22, nb 2, p 0) | |||||||
| Total | (All Out, 19.5 Overs) | 184 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-25 (Marumani, 2.4 ov), 2-33 (Madhevere, 3.5 ov), 3-74 (Bennett, 8.1 ov), 4-107 (Williams, 11.3 ov), 5-112 (Raza, 12.2 ov), 6-129 (Campbell, 14.3 ov), 7-132 (Jongwe, 14.6 ov), 8-169 (Muzarabani, 18.2 ov), 9-184 (Ngarava, 19.5 ov).
Pakistan Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ | Wides | No-Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 4 | 0 | 27 | 3 | 6.75 | 1 | 0 |
| Mohammad Amir | 4 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 | 3 | 1 |
| Naseem Shah | 4 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 | 2 | 1 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 3.5 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 11.73 | 1 | 0 |
| Imad Wasim | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 14.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Shadab Khan | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.50 | 1 | 0 |
Powerplay (1-6): 62/2
50 runs: 5.4 overs
100 runs: 10.5 overs
150 runs: 16.4 overs
Match Summary and Detailed Report
Pakistan Clinch Thriller to Seal Series in Harare
In a high-octane encounter at the Harare Sports Club, Pakistan edged past a spirited Zimbabwe by 9 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
The match, a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, was ultimately decided by Pakistan’s superior death bowling and a crucial late flourish with the bat, holding off a Zimbabwean side that refused to surrender until the final ball.
The Pitch and Toss: The Harare pitch, as is often the case, offered good pace and bounce for the seamers early on but transformed into a true batting surface as the game progressed.
Under clear skies, Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza, perhaps considering the dew factor later in the evening or wanting to chase a known target, made the decision to field first after winning the toss.
Pakistan’s Innings: A Tale of Two Halves
Pakistan’s innings was a masterclass in building a platform and then exploding at the death, a blueprint for modern T20 cricket. The opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the most prolific partnership in T20I history, started cautiously against the sharp, probing lines of Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava. The Powerplay yielded 48 runs without loss—a solid, if unspectacular, foundation.
The partnership broke in the 9th over when Rizwan (29 off 25) edged Muzarabani behind. This triggered a mini-collapse. The promoted Usman Khan and the dangerous Fakhar Zaman fell in quick succession, and when Babar Azam, having looked in elegant touch for his 44, was caught in the deep off Ngarava in the 15th over, Pakistan were in a precarious position at 111/4. The innings was stuttering, and a total of 160-165 seemed likely.
Enter Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim. What followed was a breathtaking assault on the Zimbabwean bowlers that changed the complexion of the match. Shadab, in particular, was devastating. He targeted the shorter boundaries with brutal efficiency, scoring an unbeaten 41 from just 20 balls, including 4 fours and 2 sixes. Imad played the perfect foil, using his experience to rotate strike and find boundaries himself (26 off 17).
Their unbroken 5th-wicket partnership of 82 runs in just 5.1 overs catapulted Pakistan to a formidable 193. The last five overs yielded 75 runs, exposing Zimbabwe’s lack of a proven death-bowling specialist under extreme pressure.
The hosts’ fielding, which had been sharp early, also wilted under this onslaught, conceding numerous extras (38 in total), which proved costly.
Zimbabwe’s Chase: Courageous, Chaotic, and Ultimately Short
Zimbabwe’s response was fearless from the outset. Brian Bennett, the young opener, showcased remarkable power and intent, taking on the vaunted Pakistani pace attack of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Amir.
He smashed 37 off just 22 balls, providing the innings with the explosive start it desperately needed to believe in the chase. However, at the other end, Shaheen struck twice in the Powerplay, removing Marumani and Madhevere.
The experienced duo of Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams then steadied the ship. Raza, playing with characteristic aggression, raced to 32 off 22. When he and Williams (15 off 11) were at the crease, Zimbabwe were very much in the game, needing just over 10 runs an over. However, the introduction of spin and clever bowling changes by Babar Azam applied the brakes.
The crucial moment came when Raza, attempting another big shot, holed out to long-off off the bowling of Imad Wasim. This wicket opened the door for Pakistan.
What followed was a period of chaos typical of a tense run-chase. Johnathan Campbell and Luke Jongwe fell trying to maintain the accelerating required rate. From 112/4, Zimbabwe slumped to 132/7, and the match seemed all but over.
But the drama was far from finished. Blessing Muzarabani, more known for his bowling, played an astonishing cameo. Swinging freely, he bludgeoned 25 off 16 balls, including some massive hits that reignited Zimbabwean hopes.
He found an able partner in Wellington Masakadza (17* off 11). Their 37-run partnership for the 8th wicket brought the equation down to a gettable 25 needed off the last two overs.
This is where Pakistan’s experience in tight situations shone through. Babar turned to his most experienced campaigner, Mohammad Amir, for the 19th over. With ice in his veins, Amir executed his yorkers and slower balls perfectly. He conceded just 7 runs and, most importantly, dismissed the dangerous Muzarabani.
The final over, bowled by Naseem Shah, demanded 18 runs. Richard Ngarava managed a boundary, but was run out off the penultimate ball, sealing a hard-fought 9-run victory for Pakistan.
Key Performances and Turning Points
- Shadab Khan’s Blitz (41 off 20):* This was the definitive turning point. He transformed a par score into a winning one. His ability to hit from the first ball and target specific bowlers showcased his immense value as a finisher.
- Death Bowling (Amir & Shaheen): While the overall economy rates were high, their execution at the death—overs 18 and 19 in particular—was clinical. Amir’s 19th over, under immense pressure, was a masterpiece of nerve and skill.
- Zimbabwe’s Extras (38 runs): In a match lost by 9 runs, conceding 38 extras (including 12 wides and a no-ball) was a critical self-inflicted wound for Zimbabwe. It gave Pakistan free runs and bowlers additional relief.
- Brian Bennett’s Fearless Start: His innings set the tone for the chase and proved that Zimbabwe’s young talent could compete against the best. It was a statement of intent for the future.
- The Raza Dismissal: At 112/4 in the 13th over with Raza set, Zimbabwe were favorites. His dismissal to a well-planned trap by Imad Wasim shifted the momentum decisively back to Pakistan.
Conclusion: A Victory for Experience and a Promise for the Future
Pakistan will be relieved to have secured the series victory. The match exposed some middle-order fragilities but also highlighted their incredible depth and power-hitting capabilities lower down.
More importantly, it tested their nerve in a tight finish, and their senior bowlers delivered.
For Zimbabwe, the loss was heartbreaking but packed with positives. They went toe-to-toe with a full-strength Pakistani side and came within a whisker of victory.
The performances of Bennett, Muzarabani with the bat, and the continued leadership of Raza show that Zimbabwean cricket is on an upward trajectory. Their issue remains consistency and closing out key moments, especially at the death with both bat and ball.
About the Author
