Pakistan set imposing 166-run target after stellar Rizwan, Babar knocks

Pakistan’s most reliable batsmen Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam stepped up to guide their side to an imposing 165-run total against Zimbabwe in the third and final Twenty20 International in Harare on Sunday.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan were off to a cautious start despite the introduction of hard-hitting opener Sharjeel Khan to the lineup.

The slow progress finally got to Sharjeel as he miscued a slower low full toss into the hands of fielder Blessing Muzarabani, off the bowling of pacer Luke Jongwe, after scoring 18 runs off 15 balls.

The fall of Sharjeel, however, brought out skipper Babar Azam who joined opener Mohammad Rizwan for a massive 126-run partnership off 89 balls.

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Pacer Luke Jongwe finally got the better of Babar towards the end of the innings as the batsman miscued a slog into the waiting hands of fielder Ryan Burl after scoring 52 runs off 46 balls.

Jongwe then removed batsman Fakhar Zaman, caught by fielder Ryan Burl again, for a golden duck.

Mohammad Rizwan, however, remained unbeaten at the end with an incredible 91-run knock off 60 balls as Pakistan raced to an imposing total of 165 runs for the loss of three wickets in their allotted overs.

Luke Jongwe was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe after taking three wickets at the expense of 37 runs in his four overs.