RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam struck composed half-centuries as Pakistan reached 195/5 against Zimbabwe in the fourth match of the T20I tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Pakistan opted to bat first and made a steady start. Openers Farhan and Saim Ayub added 29 runs in 2.3 overs. Saim attacked early, hitting two sixes in the third over, but fell shortly after for 13 off eight balls to Brad Evans.
Babar joined Farhan and the pair built a strong platform. They rotated the strike well and found regular boundaries, guiding Pakistan to 83/1 at the halfway mark.
Their stand continued to grow, and both batters reached their half-centuries as Pakistan crossed 100 in the 13th over.
The 102-run partnership ended when Sikandar Raza dismissed Farhan for 63 from 41 balls. His innings included three sixes and four fours. Pakistan were 132/2 in 15.2 overs.
Faheem Ashraf was run out for three, but Babar kept the scoreboard moving. He struck seven fours and two sixes in a well-crafted 74 off 52 balls before Raza removed him in the 18th over, leaving Pakistan at 163/4.
Mohammad Nawaz fell for four to Richard Ngarava, but Fakhar Zaman provided late acceleration. The left-hander smashed 21 off nine deliveries, hitting two sixes and a four.
He finished unbeaten as Pakistan ended on 195/5. Salman Ali Agha remained not out on one.
For Zimbabwe, Raza took 2/39 from his four overs. Evans and Ngarava collected one wicket each.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq.
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza.
