Sufiyan Muqeem’s record-breaking 5-wicket haul guided Pakistan to a dominant ten-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, securing the T20I series. Muqeem’s figures of 5 for 3 were the best ever by a Pakistan bowler in T20Is as Zimbabwe collapsed to their lowest-ever T20I total of 57.
Zimbabwe made a strong start, with Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani attacking Pakistan’s bowlers early on. By the end of the fourth over, Zimbabwe was comfortably placed at 37 for 0. However, the momentum shifted dramatically as Pakistan’s bowlers tightened their grip. Abbas Afridi dismissed Marumani, and Rauf removed Bennett off the very first ball of his next over. Zimbabwe’s hopes were further dashed when Sikandar Raza fell to Afridi and soon after, Salman Agha dismissed Dion Myers.
Muqeem then took control, dismantling Zimbabwe’s lower order. He trapped Ryan Burl leg-before with a googly, bowled Tashinga Musekiwa for a golden duck, and finished off the innings by removing Clive Madande. Muqeem’s outstanding spell of 2.4-0-3-5 was instrumental in Zimbabwe’s collapse.
Pakistan had little trouble in the chase, reaching 58 without losing a wicket. Openers Saim Ayub and Omair Yousuf kept things simple, with Ayub hitting two sixes and several boundaries. Yousuf also played a few delightful shots, including a six over deep point. Zimbabwe’s bowlers, particularly Blessing Muzarabani, struggled to contain Pakistan’s charge, and the match was wrapped up in just 14.3 overs, marking the largest win by balls remaining between two Full Members in men’s T20I history.
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