Pakistan wrap up T20 series with narrow win

Harare: Middle-order batsman Umar Akmal hit an unbeaten 38 from 28 balls as Pakistan wrapped up the two-match Twenty20 international series against Zimbabwe with a 15-run win at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

After winning the toss and electing to bat on a slow wicket, Pakistan posted 136 for six in their 20 overs, the same total they managed in Sunday’s first match when they won by 13 runs.

Akmal and Imad Wasim struck crucial blows late in the innings to carry Pakistan to a respectable score. After struggling to gain any meaningful momentum with the bat, the tourists went into the final two overs with just 112 runs on the board, only for Akmal and Wasim to lift them to a final score of 136 for six.

With the second game being played on the same pitch, low and slow conditions made the going heavy for the batsmen, particularly with Zimbabwe showing good discipline with the ball.

While Sohaib Maqsood anchored the innings with a run-a-ball 26, only Akmal and Wasim were able to take the attack to the hosts.

Akmal finished unbeaten on 38 from just 28 deliveries having hit the only six of the innings, while seamers Tinashe Panyangara and Luke Jongwe took two wickets apiece for Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe never got going in their reply having slipped to 24 for four in the seventh over, and finished on 121 for seven from their 20 overs.

Akmal was one of the few batsmen who got to grips with the conditions as he worked the ball around superbly, scoring just 14 of his runs in boundaries.

Seamer Luke Jongwe was the pick of the home bowlers with two for 24 from his four overs, including the wicket of experienced opener Mohammad Hafeez (17).

Zimbabwe made a disastrous start to their reply but were steadied by a 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Sean Williams (40 not out) and Pakistan-born Sikandar Raza (36).

Despite having wickets in hand going into the final four overs, Zimbabwe found boundaries hard to come by with slow left-arm bowler Imad Wasim (one for 14 in four overs) and paceman Mohammad Irfan (two for 25) especially hard to get away.