In a thrilling start to the ODI series, Zimbabwe secured an unexpected victory over Pakistan in a match significantly impacted by rain.
Key performances from Sean Williams, Blessing Muzarabani, and Sikandar Raza, each claiming two wickets, stifled the Pakistani batting lineup, with no player managing to score more than 19 runs.
Mohammad Rizwan led the way for Pakistan with a modest contribution, as wickets fell consistently under pressure.
The weather did not hold, and no further play was possible once Pakistan had completed the necessary 20 overs, leading to Zimbabwe’s win via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
For Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava was the standout performer with the bat, scoring a determined 48 runs off 52 balls.
Raza also played a crucial role, contributing 39 runs from 56 balls, helping Zimbabwe recover from a precarious position at 99 for 5.
ALSO READ: Simba Bhora crowned Premier Soccer League champions
Despite Salman Agha and Faisal Akram making an impact with three wickets each for Pakistan, their efforts weren’t enough to stave off defeat, as Zimbabwe’s total surpassed the DLS target of 141.
This victory marked a significant turnaround for Zimbabwe, who had struggled at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, losing eight consecutive matches to Pakistan at this venue.
They had only managed to win one of their last nine encounters there, including a previous draw and seven defeats, but they broke this losing streak in style.
As the teams prepare for the second match of the three-match series on Tuesday at the same venue, Zimbabwe will look to build on this momentum and continue their successful run against Pakistan.
