Zimbabwe’s shocking one-run victory in Perth further damaged Pakistan’s World Cup aspirations.
Pakistan needed to end on 129-8 to win, and with some outstanding bowling from Zimbabwe, they did so.
Before being dismissed for 44 by spinner Sikandar Raza, who claimed 3-25, Shan Masood seemed to be leading Pakistan out of danger.
It was Zimbabwe’s first victory in a men’s T20 World Cup outside the first round.
Craig Ervine, captain of Zimbabwe, stated, “It’s very excellent, particularly considering the effort we made to get into the Super 12s.
We wanted to play some powerful cricket against some great teams because we didn’t want our campaign to finish there, and we achieved that incredibly well today.
Shaheen Afridi was run out while attempting to come back for a second run that would have clinched a draw when he needed three runs to win off the deciding ball. Instead, he could only manage a single.
After two games, Pakistan is still winless, with their first encounter against India also ending in a nail-biting loss.
Consequently, Zimbabwe moves to third place in Group Two, behind South Africa and India, while Pakistan drops to fifth.
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Zimbabwe struggled against fierce Pakistani bowling after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Sean Williams’ 31 was the only personal score of moreover 20.
With 4-24, Mohammad Wasim led the way, while leg-spinner Shadab Khan finished with 3-23.
However, Pakistan dropped to 36-3 after losing its openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, early before a partnership of 52 runs between Masood and Shadab rebuilt the chase.
However, after Shadab and Haider Ali were bowled by Raza in back-to-back deliveries, Zimbabwe regained the initiative.
Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, two-seamers, bowled with reasonable control in a wild finale until Mohammad Nawaz’s six and four put Pakistan back in the lead.
Nawaz was eventually caught at mid-off by Brad Evans in retaliation, thereby ending Pakistan’s aspirations.
Pakistan is still in the competition, but they now rely on other outcomes to go their way.
Masood said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, “We are pretty unhappy. “We are a batting team capable of reaching a goal of 130.
“We needed to complete the game since we were only two runs down in the 13th, and the run rate dropped below seven.
It’s frustrating that we let it go as pressure mounted and things got tight.