Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by 99 runs in the 3rd ODI of the 3-match series. They lost the first match of the series and then came back strongly to win the series.
The batters stepped up after a poor performance in the first ODI. Pakistan got restricted to 60-6 in the first ODI before rain interrupted the game. Then they won the second ODI by 10 wickets. Saim Ayub scored a brilliant century in that match.
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first in the 3rd ODI. The openers gave a good start as they stitched 58 runs for the first wicket. Saim Ayub (37 runs) and Abdullah Shafique (50 runs) did well with the bat.
Kamran Ghulam scored a hundred and was the highest run-scorer with 103 runs. Mohammed Rizwan (37 runs), Salman Agha (30 runs) and Tayyab Tahir (29* runs) also chipped in with useful contributions.
Sikandar Raza and Richard Ngarava picked up 2 wickets each for Zimbabwe. Blessing Muzarabani and Faraz Khan picked up one wicket each.
Collective bowling effort led Pakistan to series win
Zimbabwe got off to a bad start losing two wickets in the first three overs. Saim Ayub picked up 2 wickets. Tadiwanashe Marumani scored 24 runs before getting dismissed in the 9th over.
Skipper Craig Ervine scored 51 runs and was the highest scorer for his side. He scored 39 runs with Marunmani and 41 runs with Sean Williams (24 runs). Brian Bennett (37 runs) and Clive Madande (20 runs) scored 40 runs between them.
Richard Ngarava (17 runs) and Madande delayed the inevitable loss by scoring 29 runs between them. Pakistan bowlers put in a collective performance with the ball.
Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf and Aamer Jama picked up 2 wickets each for the visitors. Faisal Akram and Kamran Ghulam picked up 2 wickets each.
The 3-match T20I series between both teams will start on 1st December. Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo will host all the three games.
