SCORECARDCOMMENTARY
PAK WON
T20
PAK beat ZIM by 69 runs
Man of the Match - Usman Tariq
PAK
195-5
20.0/20 Ovrs
126-10
19.0/20 Ovrs
ZIM
T20I Tri-Series in Pakistan, 2025 |Match 4 |11/23/2025
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Commentary
- Right then, that is it from the fourth game of this Tri-Series and the next game is probably the most crucial game of this series so far. Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe, looking for revenge and a hope to stay in the competition. However, a win for Zimbabwe will make sure that the Lankans are out of the running for the Final. That game will be played once again here in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, 25 November. The game will begin at 1 pm GMT but as usual, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!
- The victorious captain of Pakistan, Salman Agha, is all smiles after the win. He calls it a perfect win. Highlights that they played almost a perfect game against Sri Lanka and have backed it up well with this win. Shares that when you have 70-meter boundaries, running between the wickets gets very crucial and that's exactly what they discussed in their team meeting. He then appreciates the way Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam kept the scoreboard ticking in that middle phase. Calls Usman Tariq a bowler with an X factor. He adds that if you have a bowler like him who can create that kind of impact in the middle overs, they are always going to be on the winning side.
- The captain of Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza, says that apart from the final over, he felt it was a typical Rawalpindi wicket and there were runs to be scored but they needed some to step up after losing those early wickets, which didn't happen. Adds that you need to know that the opposition will have worked on your weaknesses and you need to be on your game every time. Mentions that they will regroup soon and have a chat and feels that there's need to be individual responsibility and they need to play spin well, especially given the fact that the upcoming T20 World Cup is in Asia.
- Usman Tariq is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his exceptional spell of bowling, which included a hat-trick. He starts by saying that he is blessed to be honored to become the fourth Pakistani bowler to pick up a T20I Hat Trick. On his bowling action, he explains that you need to be balanced and the body should go forward, which helps him with his action. Adds that there is a huge process in bringing in those variations. Shares that his coach in Peshawar taught him a couple of variations. Admits that he wasn't expecting a big shot on his Hat Trick ball and also credits Salman Agha for putting the fielder in the deep, which gave him the confidence to bowl that line and length.
- The presentation ceremony...
- Earlier in the game, birthday boy Salman Agha opted to bat first and the Pakistani openers made their intentions clear very soon. Even after losing a wicket, Sahibzada Farhan continued to play his shots and got plenty out of them as well, whereas Babar Azam slowly but surely seemed to be getting into pristine form. Farhan scored 63 and Babar got to 74 runs each and it was Fakhar Zaman who added the finishing touches with 3 sixes in the final over, picking up 25 runs in total in that over. As for Zimbabwe, they blew hot and cold with the ball as the frontline seamers did a decent job but it was Brad Evans who was taken to the cleaners along with a few big overs from the others as well.
- Zimbabwe came into this game high on confidence after having dismantled Sri Lanka in the previous game, but were probably a bit shell-shocked to see that they were going to chase 196 runs in this game. The Zimbawean openers looked good for a few deliveries but both got out in quick succession and they were 3 down inside the first 4 overs. With the spinners coming on after the Powerplay, Zimbabwe had already lost the backbone of their batting lineup. Ryan Burl was the solo act as he watched batter after batter coming and getting out but he did manage to hit a fine unbeaten 67 off 49 deliveries. However, in the end, they were handed a bit of a reality check.
- Pakistan had the runs on the board and they knew they could throw caution to the wind in the first few overs. However, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim simply held their lines and induced false shots from the Zimbabwean openers. The changes made by Salman Agha also worked wonderfully as all five bowlers picked up a wicket each early in their spell. The spinners did really get the opposition batters into a tangle and Usman Tariq was simply unplayable at times, picking up a hat-trick in the process as well. Mohammad Nawaz continued his good form and Pakistan made light work of their opponents, or seemed to have until that late barrage of boundaries from Burl. A comfortable win, nonetheless.
- A very, very late counterpunch from Ryan Burl to minimize some of the damage but it is a rollicking win for Pakistan, cementing their place in the Tri-Series Final. The hosts have flexed their muscles against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe were well off the boil tonight and all the hard work they did against Sri Lanka, they will have to do it again, as their net run rate has now taken a beating with this big defeat.
- 18.6WMohammad Wasim to Ryan Burl, OUT! RICHARD NGARAVA IS RUN OUT! Well, that wasn't the part of the script at all. Fuller delivery, down the leg stump line. Ryan attempts to whip that away into the leg side, but misses to connect. Usman Khan, the keeper, fumbles to collect the ball in the first attempt and recovers almost instantly. There is a total communication lapse in the middle as Ryan Burl is going nowhere and is ball-watching, but Richard Ngarava is more than halfway through to sneak in a bye. In fact, he is almost near the popping crease at the batting end. Realising this, Usman Khan tosses up an underarm throw toward the non-striker's end and scores a direct hit. Three wins in three matches, and into the finale of this Tri-Series, the hosts are. PAKISTAN BEAT ZIMBABWE BY 69 RUNS.
- 18.50Mohammad Wasim to Ryan Burl, Down the leg stump line, on a good length. Ryan Burl gets inside the line and tries to whip that over square leg, but misses. The ball grazes the thigh pad and carries through to the keeper.
- 18.40Mohammad Wasim to Ryan Burl, Full and around off, carved out to mid off.
- 18.30Mohammad Wasim to Ryan Burl, On a length, outside the leg stump line. Burl tries to hoick across the line, but the ball beats the bat and thuds the front pad.
- 18.31wdMohammad Wasim to Ryan Burl, WIDE! Spotting Ryan shuffling across to play the lap shot, Wasim sprays miles outside the off stump, and beyond the tramline. Burl tries the reverse ramp but misses. Wide called.
- 18.20Mohammad Wasim to Ryan Burl, A yorker, on off, Burl calmly digs it out to cover.
- 18.14Mohammad Wasim to Ryan Burl, FOUR! Excellently controlled! Fuller in length from Wasim, on middle and leg. Ryan Burl flicks it uppishly, but into the vacant deep mid-wicket region for a boundary.
- END OF OVER 18 | 13 Runs & 0 Wkt | ZIM 121/9
- 17.64Faheem Ashraf to Richard Ngarava, FOUR! Now that has been struck so well! Ashraf goes short and on middle. Richard Ngarava goes deep inside the crease and pulls it over square leg for a one-bounce boundary.
- 17.51Faheem Ashraf to Ryan Burl, Length ball, on off, Ryan Burl knocks it down to long off for a single.
- 17.40Faheem Ashraf to Ryan Burl, Around off and this is smacked away to deep cover.
- 17.30Faheem Ashraf to Ryan Burl, Short on middle, Ryan Burl pulls it off the sweet spot of the bat, but finds the man patrolling the deep mid-wicket fence. Does not run.
- 17.24Faheem Ashraf to Ryan Burl, FOUR! Hammered! He has played some lovely strokes in this match. Full and on off, Ryan Burl gets onto it in a flash and brutally spanks it between extra cover and mid off for a cracking boundary. This is now Zimbabwe's highest 10th wicket partnership in T20Is.
- 17.14Faheem Ashraf to Ryan Burl, TOP EDGE, FOUR! Faheem drops it short and outside off. Ryan Burl slashes and slashes hard at it off the back foot. Gets a thick top edge and the ball flies over short third for a boundary.
- END OF OVER 17 | 9 Runs & 0 Wkt | ZIM 108/9
- 16.61Naseem Shah to Ryan Burl, Keeps the strike. An attempted yorker, on off, Ryan Burl squeezes it to deep extra cover for a single.