Twitter Erupts As Zimbabwe Pulls Off Its First T20I Win Over Pakistan In Harare

Updated - 23 Apr 2021, 08:24 PM

Pakistan, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by 19 runs in Harare [Iimage-IPLT20]

History has been created at the Harare Cricket Stadium as Zimbabwe have notched up their first-ever T20I win against former champions Pakistan in the second T20I of the three-match series on Friday.

Chasing a poultry total of 119, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan imploded in spectacular fashion to eventually get bowled out for 99 and lose the game by 19 runs.

Batting first, Zimbabwe could only manage 9/118 in their quota of 20 overs against an all-round Pakistani bowling unit.

Opener Tinashe Kamunhukanwe top-scored with a 40-ball 34 while a plethora of batsmen got starts but couldn’t convert them into a big knock. Mohammad Hassnain, with figures of 2-19 in four overs, was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan.

Pakistan, Zimbabwe
Luke Jongwe starred for Zimbabwe [Image-Twitter]
One would have hoped that Pakistan wouldn’t break a sweat in their chase of a mere 120 but it turned to be the exact opposite as the Men in Green never got going.

They lost their in-form opener Mohammad Rizwan for an 18-ball 13 in the 6th over and with the middle-order once again falling like a pack of cards, the onus was on skipper Babar Azam to steer the ship to safety.

But, Babar Azam too struggled throughout his stay at the crease, managing a 45-ball 41. His wicket in the 16th over proved to be the turning point as Pakistan proceeded to lose their last seven wickets for a mere 21 runs. Right-arm pacer Luke Jongwe [4/18 in 3.5 overs] proved to be the wrecker-in-chief for Zimbabwe and he was rightly adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for his efforts that paved the way for a historic day in Zimbabwe cricket.

This is the second time in the last six months that Zimbabwe has won a white-ball game against Pakistan, having won an ODI via Super Over last winter.

 

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Pakistan’s first-ever defeat to Zimbabwe in a T20I:

https://twitter.com/hazharoon/status/1385567538575253510

https://twitter.com/Gillian_Price/status/1385569697979064323?s=19

https://twitter.com/Yeh_tu_hoga/status/1385570586949267458?s=19

https://twitter.com/mohitbedmutha/status/1385569917659861000?s=19

https://twitter.com/im_yash2307/status/1385569309418610688?s=19

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Zimbabwe vs Pakistan 2021