Zimbabwe ruffled some tail feathers by pushing Pakistan to the wire during their T20I match in Harare today.
Cephas Zhuwao and Solomon Mire added 49 for the first wicket, after which the latter played mostly a solo hand in smoking the Pakistan bowlers for 94 runs off 63 balls. His innings included six fours and six sixes, and he had excellent backup from Tarisai Musakanda, whose 33 off 22 balls matched Mire’s strike-rate at around 150 runs per 100 balls.
Zimbabwe’s 162-4 set Pakistan 8.1 runs to the over, which was a reasonable request, but after a speedy start by Fakhar Zaman (47 off 38 balls) and Haris Sohail (16 off 15 balls), the innings slowed towards the latter stages of the innings, giving Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope.
Hussain Talat scored 44 off 35 balls, before skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (38 not out off 21 balls, S/R 180.95) and Shoaib Malik’s unbeaten 12 off six balls (S/R 200.00) saw their side to safety with seven wickets and five balls in hand.
Mire won the Man of the Match award for his innings that more than doubled his career runs in T20Is.
Photo: JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images
