By Trevor Makonyonga
An impressive knock by youngster Wesley Madhevere was not enough to prevent a 24-run loss to visitors, Pakistan, in a match played at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Zimbabwe had showed signs of causing a possible upset with an exquisite 48 runs in the first 6 overs which was setting up for a potential explosive end to the match.
Openers Madhevere (59) and Tarisai Musakanda (10) started well with intent posting 37 runs together before Musakanda was trapped lbw by Hassan Ali as he tried to play one across instead of playing it in line.
There was proof that the future is bright when highly rated youngsters Tadiwanashe Marumani (35) and Wesley Madhevere whose partnership of 75 was the biggest positive of the match in the Zimbabwe innings.
Zimbabwe seemed as if they would get to the target of 166 but they lost six wickets for 39 runs from midway into the 14th over and finished 24 runs short.
Another success story of the series was the returning Luke Jongwe who took all three of Zimbabwe’s wickets in the match. Jongwe claimed nine wickets across the three matches and took 3 for 33 in yesterday’s match.
Hassan Ali’s career-best 4 for 18 spoiled the day for the hosts who looked like they could possibly upset the Pakis.
In the Pakistan innings, a 126-run second-wicket stand between Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam (52) and Mohammad Rizwan (91*) put them in a wining position. Rizwan had a second half-century in Zimbabwe having had hit the same number of fifties in South Africa.
There were three milestones reached in the match as Babar Azam became the fastest to 2000 T20I runs with just 54 matches whilst Hassan Ali took his 150th T20I wicket. For Zimbabwe, Luke Jongwe became the highest wicket taker against Pakistan in T20I.
Zimbabwe and Pakistan will now play in two Test matches with the first one starting on Thursday April 29.
