Rawalpindi, 18 November 2025: Pakistan began their campaign in the Tri-nation T20I series with a five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe as they chased the 148-run target with four balls to spare here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night.
Zimbabwe will now take on Sri Lanka at the same venue on Thursday, 20 November in the second match of the series.
Player of the match Mohammad Nawaz’s all-round contributions (4-0-22-2, 21 not out off 12) coupled with a crucial 61-run fifth-wicket stand between Fakhar Zaman (44, 32b, 2x4s, 2x6s) and Usman Khan (37 not out, 28b, 3x4s) led Pakistan to their third T20I win in their last four fixtures.
Zimbabwe’s opening pair of Brian Bennett (49, 36b, 8x4s) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (30, 22b, 3x4s, 1x6) put on a solid 72-run stand in eight overs after Pakistan opted to bowl first.
Pakistan’s bowling attack reined in Zimbabwe’s batting line-up taking eight wickets for 75 runs in the remaining 12 overs after Nawaz halted the opening duo’s advance.
After walking in to bat at 94-3 in the 13th over, skipper Sikandar Raza remained unbeaten for 34 off 24 balls (3x4s, 1x6) including a six and a four in the last over of innings.
In turn, Pakistan stumbled to 54-4 after Saim Ayub (22, 26b, 1x4, 1x6) and Sahibzada Farhan (16, 15b, 3x4s) put on 27 runs for the opening stand.
Fakhar and Usman came together when Pakistan required 94 runs off 63 balls and saw off boundary-less 11th over. Usman then hit a boundary each in 12th and 13th over, while Fakhar found a six each in the next two overs bringing the equation down to 42 needed off last five overs.
Zimbabwe threatened to tighten the screws with Fakhar’s scalp in the 16th over off Richard Ngarava before Nawaz walked in and stitched an unbeaten 36-run match-winning stand with Usman.
Nawaz hit a six over long-on off Brad Evans in the 17th over after which Pakistan required 17 off the last two overs. The duo then gathered 12 runs off Evans in the penultimate over as in a dramatic turn of events he overstepped, they dropped Nawaz and Usman hit a four in a space of two balls.
Tinotenda Maposa – defending five runs off the last over – got hit for back-to-back fours by Nawaz on the first two balls as Pakistan got over the line.
Scores in brief
Tri-series – First T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by five wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Zimbabwe 147-8, 20 overs (Brian Bennett 49, Sikandar Raza 34 not out, Tadiwanashe Marumani 30; Mohammad Nawaz 2-22)
Pakistan 151-5, 19.2 overs (Fakhar Zaman 44, Usman Khan 37 not out, Saim Ayub 22, Mohammad Nawaz 21 not out; Brad Evans 2-26)
Player of the match – Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)
Series schedule: (All matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; All matches to begin at 6pm PKT)
18 November – First T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by five wickets
20 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
22 November – Pakistan Sri Lanka
23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe
25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka
29 November – Final
