Babar and Haider secure T20I series win over Zimbabwe


The 1950s for Haider Ali and Babar Azam helped Pakistan seal victory in the T20I series over Zimbabwe, following a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the second T20I at Rawalpindi.

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Haris Rauf pressured Zimbabwe early on, knocking out dangerous Brendan Taylor and Chamu Chibhabha in the first four overs, before Faheem Ashraf dropped Sean Williams.

With 38/3 in the fifth over, Zimbabwe desperately needed a partnership, but Usman Qadir threw Sikandar Raza with a beautiful googly before catching fit Wesley Madhevere for 24 in the same over.

The impressive Qadir also hit Elton Chigumbura 18 to finish 3/23 in four overs, while Zimbabwe battled 90-6.

Ryan Burl did his best to propel the visitors to a competitive 32 * total, but 134/7 was going to be a tough score for the Chevrons to defend.

Pakistan lost the first gates to Fakhar Zaman as Blessing Muzarabani continued his rich streak of land grabbing form, but a formidable partnership of Haider Ali and Babar Azam ensured the hosts were on their way to victory.

Muzarabani (2/33) took the wicket off Babar as Chigumbura took a good catch with the ropes on his thin leg, but Haider (66 *) saw his team at home alongside Khushdil Shah with almost five overs to spare.

The victory means Pakistan is up 2-0 in the series and the final T20I will take place in Rawalpindi on Tuesday 10th November.

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