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Fakhar Zaman, Nawaz lead Pakistan’s escape vs ZIM to start Tri-Series with a win

Aakash Saini

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe to win first T20I [Source: @ICC/x]Pakistan beat Zimbabwe to win first T20I [Source: @ICC/x]

Pakistan overcame Zimbabwe in a tense last-over thriller to start off the T20I tri-series with a win. Fakhar Zaman scored a blistering 44 in a tight chase, while Mohammad Nawaz demonstrated his all-round excellence. 

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of the first T20I of the Pakistan T20I Tri-series 2025 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, as it panned out at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, November 18.

Nawaz and co. restrict ZIM to 147 after a flying start

Zimbabwe openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani raced to a 72-run partnership in just eight overs to get their team off to a flier. Marumani scored 30 off 22 balls, while Bennett top-scored in the innings through his attacking 36-ball 49. However, Zimbabwe’s early platform was soon dashed by Pakistan bowlers, led by spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who picked up the wickets of Marumani and Ryan Burl to claim tight figures of 2-22.

Captain Sikandar Raza at number five chipped in with a swift 34* from 24 balls amidst tumbling wickets to steer Zimbabwe to a competitive 147-8 in 20 overs. For Pakistan, fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Salman Mirza picked up a wicket each at the death, and spinners Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed also struck once in their four-over spells.

Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan win it for Pakistan

Zimbabwe fast bowler Brad Evans as well as Tinotenda Maposa and Graeme Cremer wrecked Pakistan’s top-order, as the hosts crashed to 54-4 at the halfway stage of the run-chase. Evans himself bagged the huge wickets of Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam, the latter for a three-ball duck to lead Zimbabwe’s early command.

Tottering around the 10th over of the innings, Fakhar Zaman crafted 44 from 32 balls and shared a match-defining 61-run partnership with unbeaten Usman Khan (37* off 28). Shortly after Zaman was dismissed by Richard Ngarava, all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz notched up the winning runs for Pakistan in the final over (20* off 12) with five wickets to spare.