- Usman returned figures of 4-18 becoming Pakistan’s fourth hat-trick taker in T20Is
Rawalpindi, 23 November 2025: Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam’s 103-run second-wicket partnership lifted Pakistan to 195 before Usman Tariq picked up a hat-trick as Zimbabwe fell 69 runs short in the fourth match of Tri-nation T20I series here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday night.
Pakistan – who are through to the final - will face Sri Lanka in their last league-stage fixture on 27 November, while Zimbabwe will face them too in their next fixture on 25 November as the two teams fight out for the final berth.
In pursuit of the 196-run target, Zimbabwe were jolted with a triple blow in the powerplay as they slipped to 25-3 in 3.3 overs with Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah striking once each.
Sikandar Raza (23, 18b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Ryan Burl then put on 34 runs for the fourth wicket before the former was caught at mid-wicket off Mohammad Nawaz as the scoreboard read 59-4 after 8.1 overs.
Usman, who became fourth Pakistan bowler to bag a T20I hat-trick besides Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Hasnain and Mohammad Nawaz, removed Tony Munyonga (1), Tashinga Musekiwa and Wellington Masakadza to leave Zimbabwe reeling on 60-7 after 9.4 overs. He finished with impressive figures of 4-1-18-4 in just his second T20I.
No.5 Burl (67 not out, 49b, 8x4s, 2x6s) remained the only Zimbabwe batter to keep Pakistan bowlers on the toes ever since he walked in to bat in fourth over.
The left-hander notched his fifth T20I half-century and his career-best score in the format but without any support from the other end as none of their batters from 6-11 entered double figures.
With Zimbabwe bowled out for 126 in 19 overs, the hosts registered their fifth successive victory in T20Is.
Mohammad Nawaz sent down four overs for 2-21.
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings was decorated with half-centuries from Babar and Sahibzada as the duo notched just the second century partnership in 13 T20Is at the venue.
Sahibzada, coming on the back of an unbeaten 80 in the previous game, scored another blistering41-ball 63-run knock comprising four fours and three sixes. His partnership with Babar lifted the home side to 132 after 15.1 overs before the former departed.
Babar Azam brought up his 38th T20I half-century in 15th over, but he was removed after a 52-ball 74 hitting seven fours and twosixes.
Coming in to bat at no.7, Fakhar Zaman chipped in with a cameo of an unbeaten 27 off just 10 deliveries, including one four and three sixes lifting Pakistan to a challenging total of 195-5 in 20 overs.
For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza picked up two wickets for 39 runs while Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans picked up one wicket apiece.
Scores in brief:
Match 4 of 7: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 69 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Pakistan 195-5, 20 overs (Babar Azam 74, Sahibzada Farhan 63, Fakhar Zaman 27 not out; Sikandar Raza 2-39)
Zimbabwe 126 all out, 19 overs (Ryan Burl 67 not out, Sikandar Raza 23; Usman Tariq 4-18, Mohammad Nawaz 2-21)
Player of the match – Usman Tariq (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 – Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs
22 November – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets
23 November – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 69 runs
25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka
29 November – Final
