Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 2015
Wisden's review of the second Twenty20 International, Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 2015
15-Apr-2016
Second Twenty20 international At Lahore, May 24, 2015 (floodlit). Pakistan won by two wickets. ‡Zimbabwe 175-3 (20 overs) (V. Sibanda 49, H. Masakadza 39, S. C. Williams 58*); Pakistan 176-8 (19.4 overs) (Mukhtar Ahmed 62, Umar Akmal 30). MoM: Mukhtar Ahmed. MoS: Mukhtar Ahmed. T20I debuts: Imad Wasim, Nauman Anwar (Pakistan).
Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain and now leader of the opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was in attendance as another tight finish enthralled a packed house. Pakistan gave a debut to Imad Wasim, a spin-bowling all-rounder born in Swansea. Zimbabwe, spared facing Wahab Riaz - who had hurt his hand dropping a return chance in the first match - began with 68 in 8.3 overs between Masakadza and Sibanda, before Sean Williams's career-best 58*,from 32 balls. Three sixes from Chigumbura in the 18th over, bowled by Mohammad Sami, helped send Zimbabwe past their total of two days earlier. Mukhtar Ahmed launched the reply with a 40-ball 62 - meaning he had top-scored in his first three Twenty20 internationals - but then Pakistan slumped, losing five for 44 in five overs. They looked down and out, until No. 10 Bilawal Bhatti smashed six, two and four off the final over, bowled by Brian Vitori.
Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain and now leader of the opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was in attendance as another tight finish enthralled a packed house. Pakistan gave a debut to Imad Wasim, a spin-bowling all-rounder born in Swansea. Zimbabwe, spared facing Wahab Riaz - who had hurt his hand dropping a return chance in the first match - began with 68 in 8.3 overs between Masakadza and Sibanda, before Sean Williams's career-best 58*,from 32 balls. Three sixes from Chigumbura in the 18th over, bowled by Mohammad Sami, helped send Zimbabwe past their total of two days earlier. Mukhtar Ahmed launched the reply with a 40-ball 62 - meaning he had top-scored in his first three Twenty20 internationals - but then Pakistan slumped, losing five for 44 in five overs. They looked down and out, until No. 10 Bilawal Bhatti smashed six, two and four off the final over, bowled by Brian Vitori.