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RAWALPINDI: Captain Babar Azam hit a fluent half century and spurred Pakistan to a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 international at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Babar proved yet again why he is one of the top batsmen in white-ball cricket as the right-hander made 82 off 55 balls, while reaching his 15th half century in Twenty20 Internationals as Pakistan eased to 157-4 in 18.5 overs for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Mohammad Hafeez scored 36 off 32 balls and together with Babar shared an 80-run stand as fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani finished with 2-26.
Earlier, 20-year-old Wesley Madhevere hit nine fours and a six to score an unbeaten 70 from 48 deliveries but the host team still restricted Zimbabwe at 156-6.
“I am quite satisfied with my innings today,” said man-of-the-match Babar, who hit nine fours and a six in his knock. “I apply my game in the middlebut the main thing is I enjoy the game.”
Zimbabwe, who upset Pakistan in the third ODI at the end of their 2-1 loss in the preceding series, were never able to stop Babar’s free-flowing stroke play despite dismissing Fakhar Zaman (19) and Haider Ali (7) by the eighth over.
Babar, however, got a life on 67 when Muzarabani dropped a regulation catch at long off, and Hafeez fell late in the run-chase. Babar, who is bidding to regain No.1 ranking — which he lost to England’s Dawid Malan two months ago — punched nine boundaries and a six during his 80-run stand for the third wicket with Hafeez before holing out at deep mid-wicket when Pakistan required just 15 for the win.
And when Hafeez was clean bowled by Tendai Chatara, Pakistan were only a run away from sealing the game.
Former Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura, who will retire after the series ends on Tuesday, made a quickfire 21 off 13 balls, but Zimbabwe’s top order struggled to accelerate against fast bowlers Haris Rauf (2-25), Wahab Riaz (2-37) and Mohammad Hasnain (1-25).
“I think we were 20 runs short [and] the middle period was not good for us,” Zimbabwe skipper Chamu Chibhabha said, adding he was impressed with young Madhevere’s batting. “He [Madhevere] took the responsibility. He’s pleasing to watch, he’s a good cricketer and takes responsibility.”
Madhevere held Zimbabwe’s innings together with his maiden Twenty20 half century after Chibhabha’s poor run of form continued on the tour when he won the toss and opted to bat first.
Chibhabha scored only 19 runs in the preceding three-match ODI series which Zimbabwe lost 2-1 and fell for a duck on Saturday when he was trapped leg before wicket by Hasnain in the first over.
Sean Williams and Brendan Taylor had good starts before falling to false shots. Taylor holed out at deep midwicket off Haris after making 20 off 13 balls within the first six overs of batting Powerplay. Leg-spinner Usman Qadir had Williams clean bowled off his eighth ball on his Twenty20 International debut after the left-hander had made 25 off 24 balls.
Madhevere survived a close stumping appeal off Usman, son of the late Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, when he was on 36 but showed grit against pace with some impressive drives and pulled shots.
Chigumbura, who didn’t feature in the ODI series, made some quick runs and pulled Wahab for a six and a straight four in the last over that enabled Zimbabwe to cross the 150-run mark. Chigumbura fell off the final ball when Hafeez took a sharp catch at point.
It was Pakistan 12th straight victory over Zimbabwe in all Twenty20 internationals.
Babar added his victorious side still had room for improvement. “We executed the plan in bowling but still need work on our fielding.”
The second match will be played Sunday before Zimbabwe wraps up its limited-overs tour to Pakistan on Tuesday.
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE:
B.R.M. Taylor c Haider b Haris 20
C.J. Chibhabha lbw b Hasnain 0
S.C. Williams b Usman 25
W. Madhevere not out 70
Sikandar Raza c Rizwan b Wahab 7
R.P. Burl b Haris 8
E. Chigumbura c Hafeez b Wahab 21
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-2, W-2) 5
TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs) 156
FALL OF WKTS: 1-5, 2-34, 3-70, 4-87, 5-122, 6-156.
DID NOT BAT: T.S. Chisoro, B. Muzarabani, R. Ngarava, T.L. Chatara.
BOWLING: Mohammad Hasnain 4-0-25-1 (1w); Haris Rauf 4-0-25-2; Faheem Ashraf 4-0-35-0; Wahab Riaz 4-0-37-2 (1w); Usman Qadir 3-0-24-1; Mohammad Hafeez 1-0-7-0.
PAKISTAN:
Fakhar Zaman c Chigumbura b Muzarabani 19
Babar Azam c Madhevere b Chatara 82
Haider Ali c Taylor b Ngarava 7
Mohammad Hafeez b Muzarabani 36
Khushdil Shah not out 5
Mohammad Rizwan not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-5, W-2, NB-1) 8
TOTAL (for four wkts, 18.5 overs) 157
FALL OF WKTS: 1-36, 2-62, 3-142, 4-156.
DID NOT BAT: Faheem Ashraf, Wahab Riaz, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.
BOWLING: Madhevere 1-0-8-0; Muzarabani 3.5-0-26-2 (2w); Chatara 3-0-25-1; Ngarava 4-0-37-1 (1nb); Chisoro 4-0-26-0; Williams 1-0-11-0; Sikandar Raza 2-0-19-0.
RESULT: Pakistan won by six wickets to lead three-match series 1-0.
UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Asif Yaqoob (Pakistan).
TV UMPIRE: Rashid Riaz (Pakistan).
MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Javed Malik (Pakistan).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Babar Azam.
SECOND MATCH: Rawalpindi, Sunday (3:30pm PST).
THIRD MATCH: Rawalpindi, Tuesday (3:30pm PST).