Luke Jongwe (4-18) helped Zimbabwe register a 19-run victory over Pakistan, in the second T20I of the three-match, on 23 April at the Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe posted 118/9 runs after Babar Azam won the toss and asked them to bat. Opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (34 off 40) was the only Zimbabwe batter to cross the 20-run mark. Pakistan’s Mohammad Hasnain (2-19) and Danish Aziz (2-29) picked up two wickets each.
Coming at the chase, Babar alongside Mohammad Rizwan never seemed comfortable on slow and low Harare wicket. The opening pair added 21 runs in 31 balls before Rizwan (13) walked back to the pavilion.
Babar kept himself calm and tried to stay at the crease till the end. However, his valiant 41 (in 45 balls) ended in the 16th over. Jongwe bowled a slower ball outside off and the Pakistan skipper sliced high to Wesley Madhevere at sweeper cover. The visitors needed 41 runs in 25 at that stage and never came back into the game.
Pakistan were bowled out for 99 with one ball left in the match. Fakhar Zaman (2), Mohammad Hafeez (5) failed to make their impact in the game. Moreover, their run rate never crossed more than 6 in an over throughout the innings.
In the 1st T20I of the three-match series, Pakistan had won by 11 runs. Rizwan was adjudged the Player of the Match after scoring 82 runs (in 61 balls) in that game. The two sides will lock horns once again on April 25 in the decider.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 118/9 in 20 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 34; Mohammad Hasnain 2-19, Danish Aziz 2-29) beat Pakistan 99 in 19.5 overs (Babar Azam 41; Luke Jongwe 4-18, Ryan Burl 2-21) by 11 runs. Player of the match: Luke Jongwe.