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T20 WC: Big upset! Zimbabwe STUN Pakistan

Last updated on: October 28, 2022 05:49 IST

Images from the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, in Perth, on Thursday.

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Zimbabwe spinner Sikandar Raza celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Shadab Khan during the T20 World Cup match at Perth Stadium, in Perth, Australia, on Thursday.

IMAGE: Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Shadab Khan during the T20 World Cup Super 12 match at Perth Stadium, in Perth, Australia, on Thursday. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Zimbabwe punched above their weight and stunned Pakistan by one run in a nail-biting T20 World Cup Super 12 match, in Perth, on Thursday.

Defending a modest 131, Zimbabwe stifiled the Pakistani batters and picked up wickets at regular intervals to stop their fancied rivals at 129 for 8.

Pakistan-born all-rounder Sikandar Raza turned the match on its head in the middle overs with figures of 3 for 25 from his four overs, which included the wickets of Shan Masood (44), Shahdab Khan (17) and Haider Ali.

Right-arm pacer Brad Evans returned figures of 2 for 25, while Blessing Muzarabani (1 for 18) and Luke Jongwe (1 for 10) also played their part in steering Zimbabwe to an incredible victory.

Zimbabwe's players celebrate after clinching a memorable victory of Pakistan

IMAGE: Zimbabwe's players celebrate after clinching a stunning victory over Pakistan. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

It was Pakistan's second defeat in as many matches after the four-wicket loss to India in another thrilling contest.

For Zimbabwe, it was their first win from two matches. The African side had earlier split points with South Africa following a wash-out.

For the second time in the tournament, Pakistan's star openers -- skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan -- failed to provide a good start.

Shan Masood was Pakistan's top-scorer with 44 off 38 balls

IMAGE: Shan Masood was Pakistan's top-scorer with 44 off 38 balls. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Babar looked tentative before he was squared up by a seaming fuller length delivery from Evans.

An over later, Rizwan played on to the stumps a Muzarabani delivery while trying to cut a ball that was too close to his body.

Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored a brisk fifty against India, didn't last long either, leaving Pakistan reeling at 36 for 3 in 7.4 overs.

But Shan Masood held one end up and together with Shadab Khan shared 52 runs for the fourth wicket to take Pakistan forward.

Bradley Evans and Sikandar Raza celebrate the wicket of Babar Azam

IMAGE: Bradley Evans and Sikandar Raza celebrate the wicket of Babar Azam. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Leg-spinning all-rounder Raza had other plans though and brought Zimbabwe back into the contest with three quick wickets, including two in the 14th over.

Raza first initiated a mishit from Shadab, who holed out at long-off, and then sent back Haider Ali for a duck.

Raza's best moment came in his next over when he got the wicket of Masood, who was brilliantly stumped by Chakabva, as Pakistan slumped to 94 for 6 in 15.1 overs.

Blessing Muzarabani and Bradley Evans celebrate as the victorious Zimbabwe players walk back after the match.

IMAGE: Blessing Muzarabani and Bradley Evans, centre, celebrate as the victorious Zimbabwe players walk back after the match. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

But Nawaz (22) kept Pakistan in the hunt in the company of Wasim and brought down the equation to 11 from the last over.

Nawaz started by picking up three runs and then clobbered a slower delivery from Evans over his head for a maximum.

Evans bounced back brilliantly and dismissed Nawaz off the penultimate delivery to bring down the equation to three runs from the final one.

Babar Azam takes the catch to dismss Regis Chakabva

IMAGE: Babar Azam takes the catch to dismiss Regis Chakabva. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Shaheen Shah Afridi was then run-out as Pakistan went for a non-existent second run in an attempt to tie the scores, handing Zimbabwe a famous win.

This was after fast bowler Wasim (4/24) and Shadab (3/23) shared seven wickets between them to derail Zimbabwe after a fine start.

Haris Rauf, who was taken to the cleaners by Virat Kohli in the penultimate over in their last match, finished with 1 for 12 from his four overs.

Sean Williams, Zimbabwe's top-scorer with 31 off 28 balls, walks off the field after being dismissed.

IMAGE: Sean Williams, Zimbabwe's top-scorer with 31 off 28 balls, walks off the field after being dismissed. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Zimbabwe got off to a good start after opting to bat with skipper Craig Ervine (19) and Wessly Madhevere (17) adding 42 runs off five overs for the opening wicket.

The partnership was broken by Rauf as Ervine was beaten by sheer pace, lobbing one to Wasim at short fine leg. Two balls later, Madhevere followed suit.

Milton Shumba (8) didn't help his side's cause either, handing a straight-forward return catch to Shadab soon after.

Sean Williams (31) and Raza (9) shared 31 runs for the fourth wicket before Shadab inflicted twin blows in the 14th over.

Shadab Khan takes the catch off his own bowling to dismiss Milton Shumba.

IMAGE: Shadab Khan takes the catch off his own bowling to dismiss Milton Shumba. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Shadab first cleaned up Williams as the batter went for expansive reverse sweep and then Regis Chakabva edged the next delivery which was brilliantly caught by skipper Babar Azam at the slip of the bowler's last ball of his spell, denying him a chance to go for a hat-trick.

Another double blow in the next over of Wasim broke Zimbabwe's backbone.

Raza once again failed to replicate his form in the qualifiers, as he was bounced out by Wasim, caught by Rauf at deep square leg fence in the next over and then Luke Jongwe was bowled in the very next ball.

Evans (19 off 15) and Ryan Burl (10 not out) played good hands towards the end.