New Delhi: Tinotenda Maposa smashed a four and a six in the final over to make a memorable debut as Zimbabwe won their third and final T20I game by two wickets to deny Pakistan a clean sweep in the series in Bulawayo on Thursday.
The all-rounder scored an unbeaten 12 off four deliveries, clobbering left-arm fast bowler Jahandad Khan in the final over as Zimbabwe reached their 133-run target with a ball remaining.
Before the 21-year-old took matters in his own hands, Zimbabwe were in danger of suffering a whitewash on home soil as their batters stumbled for the third consecutive time after Pakistan were restricted to 132/7.
Having already won the series Pakistan made four changes to their playing XI, deciding to bat after winning the toss. Pacer Blessing Muzarabani claimed two wickets inside the power play as Pakistan slumped to 19/3 by the fourth over.
Maposa dismissed Tayyab Tahir (21) just when Pakistan looked to rebuild the innings to elave Pakistan precariously placed at 52/4 in 7.4 overs.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha then held up one end firmly with 32 off as many balls, putting up 30 runs with Qasim Akram (20), who departed in the 12th over when Dion Myers took a superb catch at backward point.
Though Agha’s efforts to accelerate were thwarted by Zimbabwe using a combination of pace and spin in the death overs. Agha was run-out in a mix-up with Arafat Minhas, who was not out on 22.
Zimbabwe’s batting woes
Having lost eight wickets for 31 in their 57-run loss in the first match, Zimbabwe were shot out for their lowest T20I score of 57 in a 10-wicket loss in the second game.
But they made a good start on Thursday as Brian Bennett (43) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (15) put on 40 runs in the first 19 balls they faced as Pakistan’s pacers were unable to penetrate in the absence of rested pacer Haris Rauf.
Marumani was removed by off-spinner Salman in the fourth over. But it was Bennett’s wicket in the 10th over to wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem that triggered a collapse as they were reduced to 120/7 in the 19th over.
It left Zimbabwe needing 12 runs in the last over, when Maposa turned out to be the hero.
Debutant Tinotenda Maposa hit a four and a six in the final over as Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by two wickets in the third T20I Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
