Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
RYAN Burl’s lone resistance wasn’t enough to save Zimbabwe from another painful stumble in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan wrapped up a commanding 69 run victory to book their place in the T20I Tri-Series final on Sunday.
The left-hander carried the innings with an unbeaten 67 off 49 balls in a chase of 196. His fight kept the scoreboard respectable, although Zimbabwe were eventually dismissed for 126 in 19 overs. The defeat left the Chevrons still second on the standings, thanks to a healthier net run rate than Sri Lanka, setting up a decisive meeting between the two sides tomorrow.
Pakistan had earlier controlled the contest from the first over. Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan anchored the hosts’ total with half centuries that pushed them to 195/5. Their command at the crease left Zimbabwe chasing shadows throughout Pakistan’s innings, despite Sikandar Raza’s tidy spell of 2/39 in four overs. Richard Ngarava and Bradley Evans chipped in with a wicket each, although both leaked runs as Pakistan kept their foot down.
Azam top scored with 74 from 52 balls, Farhan cracked 63 from 41, and Fakhar Zaman finished unbeaten on 27 off 10 to apply the late squeeze.
Zimbabwe’s reply unraveled almost immediately. By 3.3 overs the top order had vanished for just 25 runs. Tadiwanashe Marumani went first for four, Brian Bennett followed for nine, and Brendan Taylor was removed for eight. A brief stand of 34 between Raza and Burl offered a glimmer of calm before the captain departed for 23 off 18, one of only two Zimbabwean batters to reach double figures.
What followed was the collapse that killed the chase. Five wickets disappeared for four runs between overs 8.1 and 10.6. Tony Munyonga added one, Tashinga Musekiwa and Wellington Masakadza both fell without scoring, Evans managed two, Tinotenda Maposa scraped three, and Ngarava chipped in five.
Ngarava at least stayed long enough to help Burl put on 44 runs for the final wicket, a new Zimbabwe record for the 10th wicket in T20 internationals. It broke the previous mark of 29 set by Chris Mpofu and Donald Tiripano.
Usman Tariq led Pakistan’s attack with 4/18, while Mohammad Nawaz finished with two wickets.
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka meet at 3pm tomorrow in a straight shootout for a place in the final.
