pakistan zimbabwe match: T20 World Cup: Zimbabwe edge Pakistan by one run in Perth thriller

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza scored a sensational 3-25 against Pakistan on Thursday as his team registered a one-run victory off the last ball to register their maiden Super 12 win in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Pakistan, after an exceptional last-ball loss to arch-rivals India in their opening match on Sunday, went down 129-8 in 20 overs to restrict Zimbabwe to 130-8 at the Perth Stadium after being marginally banned. The tournament turns sour. ,

Mohammad Nawaz, from a screeching start in the last over against India that cost the match in his favor, watched as his nightmare tournament continued when he made 22 off the final ball of the match off Brad Evans (2-25). He was dismissed for 11 runs in the last over.

Shaheen Afridi was run out on the final ball, leaving Zimbabwe players celebrating on the pitch.

Man of the match Raza told reporters, “I really believe in this group of boys.”

“Since I have been a part of Zimbabwean cricket, I would rate it as the best win. There is no better stage. It is (the) World Cup, the biggest stage.”

Pakistan got off to a rocky start with world top-order T20 batsman Mohammad Rizwan reduced to 36-3 in the eighth over, cutting a delivery from a two-metre-long Blessing Mujarbani (1-) into the dugout for 14 runs. 18) On his stumps.

It was left to Shan Masood to stabilize the ship with a composition of 44, regularly driving two to exploit the large outfield.

But Raza overtook the Asian team with his off-spin and stumped Masood on wide.

After losing the first toss, the much-awaited Pakistan pacer bowled much for 47 runs in the powerplay overs, though quick wickets stalled the momentum to dismiss the Zimbabwe openers.

Signaling a return to form after scoring a score in his team’s washout against South Africa on Monday, all-rounder Sean Williams (31) hit three boundaries and scored 95-3 with six overs to spare. Look ready.

Spinner Shadab Khan (3-23) clean bowled the left-hander before getting a chance, falling for four wickets in six balls and scoring no runs.

A late run from Evans (19 off 15 balls) gave 11th-ranked Zimbabwe the lift they needed to eventually move to third place in Group Two.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam said, ‘Today we were not better in all three departments. (Reporting by Joel Duber in Perth; Editing by John Stonestreet and Ken Ferris)

Originally published at Pen 18