Tayyab Tahir and Irfan Khan’s unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 65 runs gave Pakistan a 57-run win over Zimbabwe in the first of three Twenty20 internationals on Sunday.
Pakistan, chasing a white-ball double in Zimbabwe after already winning the ODI series 2-1, won the toss in Bulawayo and posted 165-4 while Zimbabwe were all out for 108 runs in 15.3 overs.
The tourists were 100-4 when Tahir and Khan came together to score a quick 65, punishing poor bowling and sloppy fielding, with 34 deliveries remaining at Queens Sports Club.
Tahir made 39, including sixes and fours, to become the joint top scorer with Usman Khan, who hit four boundaries, two of them sixes.
Irfan Khan scored 27 off 15 balls with three fours.
“Irrfan and I were talking to each other and we decided to run hard, hit every ball and if we can’t get six runs, we will run,” he said. Tahir, player of the match, told reporters.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, who scored the team’s highest score of 39 points, said: Going all out for 108 is a really hard pill to swallow.”
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The Pakistan-born all-rounder was the pick of the bowlers as he captured the wicket of Pakistan skipper Salman Agha (13) with his deceptive spin.
In response, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Raza raised Zimbabwe’s hopes by putting on 59 runs for the third wicket.
However, soon after Marumani was run out for 33 by Usman Khan, Raza was caught at backward point by Saim Ayub and the innings collapsed with the last four wickets falling for 13 runs.
After Jahandad Khan took the prize wicket of Raza, Sufiyan Muqeem wreaked havoc in the Zimbabwean tail, capturing three wickets.
The two sides meet again on Tuesday and Thursday.
Brief Score
Pakistan 165-4 in 20 overs (Usman Khan 39, Tayyab Tahir 39 not out, Irfan Khan 27 not out, Saim Ayub 24) v Zimbabwe 108 in 15.3 overs (Sikandar Raza 39, Tadiwanashe Marumani 33; Sufiyan Muqeem 3- 20, Abrar) Ahmed 3-28, Haris Rauf 2-17)
Result: Pakistan wins by 57 runs.
Series: Pakistan leads 1-0 with 2 games remaining.
Toss: Pakistan
