Pakistan seal series victory over Zimbabwe in Lahore

Shahid Hashmi 02:43 25/05/2015
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  • Classy MVP: Mukhtar Ahmed.

    Pakistan pulled off a sensational last over win by two wickets in the second T20 international against Zimbabwe in Lahore last night to take the two-match series 2-0.

    With 12 needed off paceman Brian Vitori’s last over, No  10 Bilawal Bhatti hit a six and four besides taking a double to help Pakistan overhaul a stiff 176-run target in 19.4 overs.

    Opener Mukhtar Ahmed hit his second consecutive fifty during his 40-ball 62 to entertain another packed 27,000 holiday crowd.

    The win added to Pakistan’s joy as the series marked the return of international cricket in Pakistan since terrorists attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009.

    Security remained tight with 4,000 policemen guarding the stadium. Zimbabwe only agreed to tour after Pakistan Cricket Board guaranteed fool-proof security normally reserved for heads of state.

    Mukhtar, who made a quick 45-ball 83 in the first match, put on 44 by the fifth over with Ahmed Shehzad (18) and another 37 with debutant Nauman Anwer (18) before Pakistan lost four wickets in quick succession.

    Mukhtar, dropped on 15 and 55, holed out at mid-on before Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi – who both made seven each – and Umar Akmal (30) fell to leave Pakistan needing 24 in 4.1 overs.

    Anwar Ali (two) and Mohammad Rizwan (six) fell in the space of five balls before Bhatti’s heroics sealed the win for Pakistan.

    Earlier, Sean Williams hit a rapid 32-ball 58 not out with seven boundaries and a six and opener Vusi Sibanda scored 49 off 46 to help Zimbabwe to a solid 175-3 after winning the toss.

    Sibanda added 68 for the opening stand with Hamilton Masakadza (39) before adding the same tally with Williams as Pakistani bowlers struggled to stop the flow of runs.

    Masakadza hit three successive boundaries off seamer Bhatti before he was dismissed by off spinner Shoaib Malik who took 1-23 in his four overs.

    Sibanda hit two boundaries and a six before becoming Afridi’s first wicket in the last three T20 matches. Williams hit Afridi for six to reach his maiden fifty off 26 balls

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