Rawalpindi, 23 November (Udaipur Kiran)। Pakistan entered the final of the tri-nation T20 series on Sunday after defeating Zimbabwe by 69 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The match turned out to be a memorable one for right-arm spinner Usman Tariq, who claimed a brilliant hattrick and played a decisive role in Pakistan’s victory.
Tariq delivered an exceptional spell, taking 4 wickets for just 18 runs in 4 overs, including a hattrick. He was bowling the 10th over of Zimbabwe’s innings when he dismissed three batters on the second, third and fourth deliveries, becoming the fourth Pakistani bowler to take a hattrick in international T20 cricket. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
This achievement came in only his second international match. Before him, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Hasnain and Mohammad Nawaz had claimed T20I hattricks for Pakistan.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat, posting 195/5 in 20 overs. Opener Sahibzada Farhan scored 63 off 41 balls with 3 sixes and 4 fours. Skipper Babar Azam added a fluent 74 off 52 deliveries, hitting 7 fours and 2 sixes. Down the order, Fakhar Zaman smashed a quickfire 27 off just 10 balls.
For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza picked up 2 wickets, while Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans took one each.
Chasing 196, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 126 in 19 overs, losing by 69 runs. Ryan Burl was the lone standout performer, remaining unbeaten on 67 off 49 balls with 2 sixes and 8 fours. Captain Sikandar Raza contributed 23 off 18.
For Pakistan, apart from Usman Tariq’s four-wicket haul, Mohammad Nawaz took 2 wickets, while Naseem Shah, Wasim Junior and Faheem Ashraf claimed one wicket each.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
