Rawalpindi, November 23, 2025: Pakistan recorded a comprehensive 69-run win over Zimbabwe in the fourth match of the T20I tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, thanks to a sensational hat-trick by spinner Usman Tariq. Zimbabwe was bowled out for 126 in 19 overs after chasing Pakistan’s 195/5.
Batting first, Pakistan got off to a solid start with openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub. Saim started aggressively, hitting back-to-back sixes in the third over but was dismissed for 13 off eight balls by Brad Evans, leaving Pakistan at 29/1.
Babar Azam joined Farhan and the pair steadily accumulated runs, putting together a 102-run partnership. By the halfway stage, Pakistan were 83/1 in 10 overs. Both batsmen reached fifties—Farhan his seventh T20I fifty and Babar his 38th.
The partnership was broken when Sikandar Raza dismissed Farhan for 63 off 41 balls. Babar Azam continued aggressively but fell for 74 off 52 balls, leaving Pakistan at 163/4 in 17.4 overs. Fakhar Zaman provided a late flourish, smashing 21 off 9 balls, including two sixes, helping Pakistan finish at 195/5.
For Zimbabwe, Raza picked up 2/39, while Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava claimed a wicket each.
Chasing 196, Zimbabwe suffered early setbacks. Tadiwanashe Marumani fell for four in the opening over to Naseem Shah, followed by Brian Bennett bowled by Mohammad Wasim Jr for nine, leaving Zimbabwe 14-2 in 1.4 overs.
The slide continued as Faheem Ashraf removed Brendan Taylor for eight. Skipper Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl attempted to rebuild with a 34-run partnership, but Raza was dismissed for 23 in the ninth over.
In the 10th over, Usman Tariq produced a magical hat-trick:
- Tony Munyonga – 1
- Tashinga Musekiwa – 0
- Wellington Masakadza – 0
This left Zimbabwe reeling at 60-7 in 9.4 overs. Tariq later removed Tinotenda Maposa for three, finishing with remarkable figures of 4/18 from 4 overs.
Despite Ryan Burl fighting valiantly with 67 off 49 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes), Zimbabwe’s innings ended in the 19th over when Richard Ngarava was run out, sealing Pakistan’s 69-run victory.
Other notable wicket-takers for Pakistan included Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, and Faheem Ashraf, who claimed one wicket each.
