Pakistan edge past Zimbabwe by 5 wickets in thrilling Tri-Nation T20 opener

In an exciting opener of the Tri-Nation T20 Series, Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by 5 wickets.

The match, played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, saw Pakistan chase down a target of 148 runs in the final over, losing 5 wickets in the process.

Usman Khan remained unbeaten on 37, while Mohammad Nawaz contributed a crucial 20* to guide Pakistan to victory.

Earlier, Fakhar Zaman scored 45, Saeem Ayub made 22, and Sahibzada Farhan added 16 runs before being dismissed.

Babar Azam could not open his account, and captain Salman Ali Agha returned to the pavilion after scoring just one run.

For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans took 2 wickets, while three other bowlers claimed one wicket each.

Batting first, Zimbabwe set a target of 148 in their 20 overs. The openers gave their side a strong start with a 72-run partnership, but once the opener was dismissed, other batters struggled under constant pressure. Zimbabwe finished with 147 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.

Brian Bennett top-scored with 49, Marumani contributed 30, and captain Sikandar Raza scored 34.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz took 2 wickets, while Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Saeem Ayub, and Abrar Ahmed took one wicket each.