Pakistan Survive Scare to Clinch Tri-Series Opener Against Resilient Zimbabwe
By Lions Roar Sports Desk
November 19, 2025
Pakistan edged out a surprisingly stiff challenge from Zimbabwe on Tuesday night, securing a crucial five-wicket victory in the opening match of the T20I Tri-Series also featuring Sri Lanka. Hosted entirely at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the tournament opener saw the hosts successfully chase down a competitive target of 148, but not before a middle-order wobble gave the Zimbabwean side a brief but real shot at an upset.
Pakistan, captained by Salman Ali Agha, won the toss and elected to field first under the Rawalpindi lights, hoping to restrict the tourists on a surface known to favor batters in the second innings.
Zimbabwe’s Innings: A Strong Start Followed by a Collapse
Zimbabwe, led by veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza, got off to a blistering start that stunned the home crowd. Openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani provided the perfect foundation, aggressively taking on the pace attack and racing to 72/1 within 8 overs. Bennett was particularly impressive, anchoring the innings with a well-made 49 runs off 36 balls, an effort studded with 8 boundaries. Marumani contributed a brisk 30 off 22 balls.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically as Pakistan’s spin attack came into the game. Mohammad Nawaz, the eventual Player of the Match, led the fightback, bowling economically and breaking the opening partnership. Nawaz finished with an excellent spell of 2 wickets for 22 runs off his four overs. The middle order, including the returning Brendan Taylor (14 off 14), failed to sustain the aggression, triggering a major collapse.
From a dominant position, Zimbabwe lost wickets in quick succession, tumbling from 94/3 to 128/8. Skipper Sikandar Raza stood firm, compiling a defiant unbeaten 34 off 24 balls to ensure the total was competitive. Ultimately, Zimbabwe finished their 20 overs at 147 for 8 wickets.
The bowling effort was rounded out by seamers Shaheen Afridi (1/34) and Salman Mirza (1/21), alongside wrist-spinner Abrar Ahmed (1/28), who all contributed to pegging back the visitors.
| Zimbabwe Batting Scorecard | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Brian Bennett | 49 | 36 | 8 | 0 | 136.11 |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani | 30 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 136.36 |
| Sikandar Raza (c) | 34* | 24 | 3 | 1 | 141.66 |
| Total | 147/8 | 20.0 Overs | RR: 7.35 |
Pakistan’s Chase: Fakhar Zaman and Nawaz Seal the Win
Chasing 148, Pakistan endured a dreadful start. The top order crumbled rapidly under pressure from a fired-up Zimbabwean pace battery, notably Brad Evans. Evans delivered a devastating double blow, first trapping opener Sahibzada Farhan (16) and then dismissing the returning Babar Azam for a three-ball duck. Azam’s dismissal, his ninth T20I duck, will intensify scrutiny on his form leading into the 2026 T20 World Cup. When Captain Salman Agha fell cheaply, Pakistan was reeling at 30 for 3 in the powerplay.
The recovery was masterminded by Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan. Fakhar, batting at number five, played the role of anchor and aggressor perfectly, stabilizing the innings while hitting boundaries to keep the required run rate in check. He was well supported by Usman Khan, and the pair put on a crucial stand to steer the innings out of danger.
Fakhar’s innings of 44 runs off 32 balls ended in the 16th over with the score at 115/5, leaving the tail-enders with 33 runs still required off 24 balls.
The final push came from Usman Khan (37 off 28)* and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz (21 off 12)*. Nawaz followed up his bowling heroics with a thrilling batting cameo, smashing the winning boundary in the penultimate over to take Pakistan past the finish line at 151 for 5 in 19.2 overs.
| Pakistan Batting Scorecard | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Fakhar Zaman | 44 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 137.50 |
| Usman Khan (wk) | 37* | 28 | 3 | 0 | 132.14 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 21* | 12 | 2 | 1 | 175.00 |
| Total | 151/5 | 19.2 Overs | RR: 7.81 |
Zimbabwean pacer Brad Evans (2/26) was the pick of the bowlers, demonstrating excellent control under pressure, but ultimately, the visitors were undone by their own batting collapse in the middle overs.
For his game-changing contribution with both ball and bat, Mohammad Nawaz was rightly named the Player of the Match. Pakistan records the first win of the series, earning two points as they prepare for the next round of matches.
The action continues tomorrow when Sri Lanka takes on Zimbabwe at the same venue, the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the Sri Lankan side keen to make a strong statement in their opening fixture.
