Sufiyan, opening propels Pakistan to decisive victory over Zimbabwe

Sufiyan, opening propels Pakistan to decisive victory over Zimbabwe

Pakistan’s Sufiyan Muqeem returns with teammates after recording five wickets in the second T20I against Zimbabwe on December 3, 2024. – X/ZimCricketv

BULAWAYO: Sufiyan Muqeem’s five-wicket haul followed by an opening attack led Pakistan to a crushing 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second T20I of the three-match series here at the Queens Sports Club on Tuesday.

Chasing a modest total of 58 runs, Pakistan knocked the winning runs in the batting powerplay without losing a single wicket.

Left-hander who opened the game, Saim Ayub, was the main attacker in the victory stand, thanks to his quick knock of 36 runs off 18 deliveries, studded with six fours and a six.

His opening partner Omair Bin Yousuf was not equally impressive as he scored an unbeaten 22 off just 15 deliveries, hitting two fours and a six in the process.

Hosts captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and elected to bat first. His decision, however, backfired as Zimbabwe’s batting unit reached a meager 57 in the 13th over.

The home team made a decent start to the innings, with strikers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Biran Bennett batting sensibly.

The opening pair registered a spirited partnership of 37 runs, which lasted with Abbas Afridi’s dismissal of Marumani in the fifth over. He scored 16 off 14 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.

The other opener, Bennett, followed suit just three balls later as he fell victim to Haris Rauf. Bennett remained Zimbabwe’s top scorer with 14-ball 21.

The consecutive dismissals triggered a game-defining collapse, mainly inflicted by the spinners, resulting in Zimbabwe falling from 37/2 to 57 all out.

Apart from the opening games, none of Zimbabwe’s batsmen managed to accumulate double figures as Pakistan’s bowlers dominated the proceedings.

Left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem was the standout bowler for the Green Shirts, returning figures of 5/3 in 2.4 overs – the best by a Pakistan bowler in men’s T20Is, after Umar Gul’s 5/6.

Right-hand pacer Abbas Afridi took two wickets while Haris Rauf, Salman Ali Agha and Abrar Ahmed contributed one wicket each.

The 10-wicket win took Pakistan to an unassailable 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe in the ongoing three-match series, with the T20I scheduled for December 5 at the same venue.

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