Pakistan romped to a thumping 74-run win over hosts Zimbabwe in the T20I tri-series opener at Harare on Sunday.
The visitors put on 182-4 on the board after batting first before their quality bowling attack bundled out the hosts for just 108 runs inside 18 overs.
Here, we look at the key talking points from Pakistan’s big win.
FAKHAR ZAMAN ENTERTAINS WITH SECOND T20 FIFTY
After losing Mohammad Hafeez early in the innings, Pakistan failed to really get a move on in the first 10 overs with Hussain Talat and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed too falling cheaply.
Thankfully for the visitors, Fakhar Zaman was in his elements despite others around his struggling for timing. The left-handed dasher was his usual attacking self as he sought to pounce on any width on offer by the Zimbabwe bowlers. Finding boundaries with regularity, Fakhar brought up his second T20I half-century off just 33 balls.
His attacking innings of 61 (40) included three boundaries and as many sixes.
Fakhar Zaman was in his elements.
ASIF ALI AND SHOAIB MALIK PROVIDE LATE FIREWORKS
Despite Fakhar’s attacking half-century, Pakistan had failed to really up the ante on a two-paced pitch. That was until Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali provided some late fireworks in the death overs. The two-right handers muscled the ball to all parts of the ground as 61 runs came in the final five overs.
Asif in particular looked extremely fluent in his unbeaten cameo of 41 runs which came off just 21 deliveries with the help of four massive sixes. His arrival at the crease allowed Pakistan to break the shackles completely as runs started to flow at a quick rate.
The experienced Malik was not too far behind with an unbeaten 24-ball 37 which included two boundaries and a six. The veteran also became only the third batsman overall and first man from Pakistan to complete 2,000 runs in T20I cricket.
Pak batting has kicked off the tri nation contest in Harare with confidence and flair - Asif Ali yoked to reliable and “un-dismissible” Shoaib Malik in a 62 run partnership stood out with big hitting..
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) July 1, 2018
PAKISTAN BOWLERS TOO GOOD FOR HOSTS
A chase of 183 on a two-paced wicket against a formidable Pakistan bowling attack was always going to be a daunting one for the hosts. That proved to be the case with Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Ali doing a terrific job with the new ball during the powerplay.
The former struck in the very first over of Zimbabwe’s chase by trapping Chamu Chibhabha plumb in front of the wickets. The latter then got the big scalp of the Zimbabwe skipper after being struck for a huge six. Once Nawaz removed Solomon Mire in the 10th over, the battle was very much lost for Zimbabwe.
Ali, Nawaz, Usman Khan and Hafeez chipped in with two wickets each ultimately as Zimbabwe’s batsmen struggled to cope with the quality in Pakistan’s attack.
.@mnawaz94 turning into a fine spinner. Comfortable bowling new ball for Pakistan & in middle overs — a role he does for Quetta Gladiators
— Quetta Gladiators (@TeamQuetta) July 1, 2018
