In-form opener Mohammad Rizwan blazed an unbeaten half of-century as Pakistan defeated hosts Zimbabwe by 11 runs in the first Twenty20 International at the Harare Sports activities Club on Wednesday.
Rizwan performed a lone hand for his workforce with 82 no longer out as they posted 7-149 in their 20 overs.
The home facet, who has no longer qualified for the T20 World Cup in India later this One year, had been continually upright behind the rate and would possibly perchance finest arrange 7-138 in retort.
After being despatched in to bat, the Pakistan innings turned into dominated by Rizwan, who’s unbeaten 82 came from 61 balls. No-one else scored more than 15, with off-spinner Wesley Madhevere the maintain of the home bowling assault with 2-11 from two overs.
Craig Ervine prime scored in the Zimbabwe retort with 34, but he turned into out to leg-spinner Usman Qadir (3-29), who additionally claimed the foremost wicket of home captain Sean Williams (9). Usman is the son of former Pakistan gargantuan Abdul Qadir and made his debut in the fresh sequence in South Africa.
Zimbabwe had been without their most experienced batsman Brendan Taylor, who pulled out of the game with a abdomen malicious program.
The second match in the three-sport sequence will seemingly be performed at the the same venue on Friday. The restricted overs fixtures will seemingly be adopted by two Assessments.
