In a nail-biting ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 Super 12 match that went down to the very last delivery at Perth Stadium, here on Thursday, a tenacious Zimbabwe team maintained its composure to defeat Pakistan by one run.
With their second loss in as many games, Pakistan's path to the semifinals has grown more challenging. In their season opener on Sunday, they had previously fallen to their bitter rivals, India.
Pakistan was able to hold Zimbabwe to 130/8 in 20 overs thanks in part to the effective bowling of Mohammad Wasim Jr. (4/24) and Shadab Khan (3/23) The likes of Wasim and Shadab combined to take seven wickets, precipitating a severe collapse. Haris Rauf (1/12), who proved difficult to score off, was a big help to them.
Pakistan was in difficulty after losing the cheaply taken wickets of Mohammad Rizwan (14) and Babar Azam (4) in the powerplay while attempting to chase a low total. With just four runs off of nine balls, Babar was squared up by Brad Evans' superb bowling, and the great Blessing Muzarabani removed Mohammad Rizwan with an inside edge for 14 (16), giving Zimbabwe a chance.
Despite the cheap removal of Iftikhar Ahmed (5), Pakistan appeared to have the match under control thanks to a strong partnership between Shan Masood and Shadab Khan, who took the score to 88/3 with six and a half overs left.
Sikandar Raza, a talented all-rounder for Zimbabwe, however, removed Shadab (17) and Haider Ali (0) with two wickets in two balls, and then he stumped Masood (44) in his very next over to give Zimbabwe hope and set up a thrilling finale. Pakistan needed 11 runs to win off the final over, but players like Mohammad Nawaz (22) and Mohammad Wasim Jr. (12 not out) weren't ready to give up.
Wasim's pivotal boundary, with the well-positioned Mohammad Nawaz at the crease, reduced the equation to three from three. However, 25-year-old Brad Evans delivered three mesmerising pitches just in time.
First, Nawaz missed a quick bouncer as Evans fizzed through it. After that, Nawaz was caught at mid-off by skipper Craig Ervine after a mistake with the penultimate ball caused both batters to fall to their knees. This was heartbreak for Nawaz in his second straight match.
Shaheen Shah Afridi punted the final ball down the field with three needed to win, tearing back in a last-ditch effort for a second run to level the game. Regis Chakabva, the wicketkeeper, initially botched the throw but recovered to remove the bails while Afridi was still off the ground, helping Zimbabwe to a thrilling one-wicket victory and setting off wild celebrations among his teammates and fans.
With his outstanding numbers of 3/25, Sikandar Raza was Zimbabwe's most successful bowler, and he received a lot of assistance from Brad Evans (2/25).
Earlier, after choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Zimbabwe got off to a fast start because to some spectacular strokes from the captain Craig Ervine and the audacious Wessley Madhevere in the first two overs. Zimbabwe got off to a fantastic start, scoring 10 runs per over, with five boundaries in the opening three overs.
When Ervine was sent back by Haris Rauf and his partner was trapped in front by Wasim in the next over, some of the initial momentum was blunted. Milton Shumba was forced out by Shadab Khan before Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza started the resurrection process.
As soon as Shadab returned Williams and Regis Chakabva for consecutive deliveries, things rapidly went bad. Chakabva was dismissed after a sensational Babar Azam catch at first slip.
Shadab finished a spectacular period of 4-0-23-3, but Zimbabwe was in for more from the opposite end. Following two wickets falling to Shadab in consecutive balls, Zimbabwe lost two more wickets in the very next over when Mohammad Wasim removed Raza and Luke Jongwe.
Once 95/3, which appeared to be a solid start, quickly turned into 95/7 as Pakistan's bowlers went on a rampage in Perth. Eventually, they put up 130/8 on board with some help from Bradley Evans down the order.
Brief Score: Zimbabwe 130/8 in 20 overs (Sean Williams 31, Brad Evans 19; Mohammad Wasim Jr 4/24, Shadab Khan 3/23) beat Pakistan 129/8 in 20 overs (Shan Masood 44, Mohammad Nawaz 22; Sikandar Raza 3/25, Brad Evans 2/25) by 1 run.