Twitter Reactions: Fifites from Babar Azam and Haider Ali and clinical bowling help Pakistan seal the T20I series

Pakistan have won the series with a game to go.

By Sakshi Jain

View : 5.7K

2 Min Read

Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
info
Pakistan vs Zimbabwe. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)

Pakistan have annihilated the touring Zimbabwe in the second T20 International of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 8. The comprehensive performance by all the players ensured that the hosts won the game by 8 wickets with 29 balls to spare. With this victory, the hosts sealed the series by 2-1 as they had already registered a win in the first T20I by 6 wickets.

The toss went in the favour of Babar Azam and he invited the opposition to bat first. Zimbabwe had a troubled start as they lost their top three batters in the powerplay. This was followed by the collapse of the middle order as Pakistan took timely wickets to ensure that no partnership grew. The bowlers, especially the pacer Haris Rauf and spinner Usman Qadir, went all guns blazing against the opponents as they claimed three apiece with the ball.

Though a lot of batters of Zimbabwe got a good start, they failed to convert it into something substantial and kept losing their wickets. Thus, the visitors only managed a below-par total of 134 for 7 in their 20 overs on a batting-friendly pitch of Rawalpindi.

Babar Azam and Haider Ali strike with the bat

Defending 135 was an almost impossible task for Zimbabwe bowlers in front of the batting line-up as strong as Pakistan’s team. However, Blessing Muzarabani again impressed the audience and gave a much-needed breakthrough to his team by taking the wicket of opening batsman Fakhar Zaman in the third over.

Muzarabani didn’t receive enough support from his counterparts as he emerged as a lone warrior with another priced wicket of opposition skipper Babar Azam under his belt. The hosts easily chased 135 on the back of the half-centuries by Babar and Haider Ali. The captain played a quickfire knock of 51 runs off 28 deliveries including 8 boundaries and one maximum at a strike rate of 182.14.

Ali also showed his class as he became the highest run-getter for his team with 66 runs off 43 deliveries. Haider’s knock included 6 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 153.49. Thus, Pakistan won the match by 8 wickets with 29 balls to spare.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Get every cricket updates! Follow Us:

googletelegraminstagramwhatsappyoutubethreadstwitter

Download Our App

For a better experience: Download the CricTracker app from the IOS and Google Play Store
Pakistan