In the opening T20I of the series held on December 1, 2024, Pakistan secured a convincing victory over Zimbabwe by 57 runs. Batting first, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 165 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan were instrumental in their team’s success, each contributing a well-crafted 39 runs. Their partnership was the highlight of the innings, especially in the closing stages, as they added a crucial 65 runs in just 34 deliveries. This late surge gave Pakistan a solid foundation, ensuring they had a defendable score going into the second innings.

Zimbabwe struggled to chase down the target, managing only 108 runs before being bowled out. Despite a promising start, their batting line-up faltered under pressure, leading to a dramatic collapse. Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed were the standout performers for Pakistan’s bowling attack, each taking three wickets. Muqeem delivered an impressive spell, finishing with figures of 3 for 20, while Abrar Ahmed complemented him with 3 for 28. Sikandar Raza provided some resistance, scoring 39 runs, but without adequate support from the rest of the batting order, Zimbabwe fell well short of the target.

This T20I followed a closely fought ODI series, where Pakistan emerged victorious with a 2-1 series win after a remarkable comeback. They had lost the first ODI but bounced back strongly to clinch the series. The next T20I, scheduled for December 3, 2024, holds significant importance for Zimbabwe. They will be eager to recover from this defeat and level the series, while Pakistan will aim to build on their momentum and secure another commanding win.

The match was further marked by an exciting finish, with Pakistan scoring 34 runs in the final two overs, a contribution that played a decisive role in setting a challenging target for Zimbabwe. Although Zimbabwe started their chase aggressively, reaching 75 for 2, their batting order crumbled soon after. Pakistan’s bowlers capitalized on this shift in momentum, with Haris Rauf adding to the pressure through his disciplined bowling. As the series progresses, both teams will need to adapt their strategies—Pakistan will focus on maintaining their winning consistency, while Zimbabwe will work on overcoming their batting issues to put up a stronger fight in the next match.