Rizwan, Usman, Hasnain help Pakistan beat Zimbabwe with 11 runs

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in the first T20I with 11 runs, courtesy of a fine display of bowling from Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Qadir and Mohammad Rizwan’s brilliant knock.

Pakistan win the first #ZIMvPAK T20I by 11 runs

Scorecard: https://t.co/yRUZt6hj0n#HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/74rJn0lkxU

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 21, 2021

When no one stood for Pakistan in the batting, Rizwan stood there and helped Pakistan get a decent total of 149 runs. On the other hand, the rest of the team managed to score only 67 runs.

Read more – Why is the Pakistan cricket team so dramatic?

Zimbabwe failed to put the struggling teams away, and Pakistan were there for putting away several times in that first innings. In the end, the 12 wides bowled, and the sloppiness in the field came back to cost them, and the frenetic nature of the chase when it should have been a cakewalk didn’t quite work in the end. They could only reach up to 138 runs with the fall of 7 wickets.

Rizwan’s unbeaten 82 of 61 balls also helped him win the Player of the Match award.

.@iMRizwanPak is the player of the match! 🙌#ZIMvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #HarHaalMainCricket pic.twitter.com/hSWgVSSQpu

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 21, 2021

“They won the toss and used the pitch well. The wickets here are different, the pitch keeps low. But Babar and I have this plan where if one fails the other tries to go deep. It’s working for now. In Zimbabwe, the ball doesn’t quite come on to the bat, but once Hafeez fell, my aim was to get us to 150,” said Rizwan in the presentation ceremony.

Meanwhile, Qadir’s three-fer for only 29 runs and Hasnain’s brilliant bowling spells led Pakistan to victory.

Pakistan has defended total of under 150 thrice against ZIM and ZIM made 137, 137 and 138 this time too close.