Lone warrior Rizwan helps Pakistan set 150-run target

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan played a lone hand in guiding his side to a respectable 149-run total against Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) between the sides in Harare on Wednesday.

After losing the toss and being put in to bat first, Pakistan were dealt an early blow when they lost their skipper Babar Azam (two off four balls) early, caught by fielder Ryan Burl off the bowling of pacer Blessing Muzarabani.

In-form batsman Fakhar Zaman survived early after a miscue was dropped but could not make it count. The batsman fell after scoring 13 runs off 14 balls, bowled by spinner Wesley Madhevere.

The wicket opened the doors towards Pakistan’s middle and lower order which had struggled tremendously during the recently concluded series against South Africa.

The Men in Green faced another collapse as the batsmen in the fragile middle-order fell without denting the score in any significant manner.

Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez (five off seven balls) could not get going and was removed by spinner Wesley Madhevere, caught by fielder Richard Ngarava.

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Batsman Danish Aziz continued to struggle against the extra bounce on offer and was caught by fielder Richard Ngarava off the bowling of Luke Jongwe after scoring just 15 runs off 11 balls.

Explosive batsman Haider Ali was cleaned up by pacer Jongwe after scoring just five runs off nine balls.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf was run-out after scoring just one run off one ball while all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz was caught behind by wicketkeeper Chakabva off the bowling of Ngarava after scoring nine runs off nine balls.

Despite the struggles of the batsmen at the other end, Mohammad Rizwan was the rock that anchored Pakistan’s innings with an unbeaten knock of 82 runs off 61 balls to lead his side to a respectable 149-run total for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted overs.

Jongwe and Madhevere were the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe after taking two wickets each.