PAK beat ZIM by 74 runs | Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st T20 Match - Commentary

Fakhar Zaman rode his luck, was dropped once but managed to score a vital fifty. The last two partnerships, 42 off 28 and 62 off 32 respectively, gave the visitors the momentum they needed. Breezy cameos from Malik and Ali ensured that their side finish on a high. Apart from Chisoro, the home side's bowling was somewhat off-colour. So, Zimbabwe have their task cut out. It won't be an easy chase against a penetrative bowling line-up. Will they come to the fore or will the tourists run away with the show? Join us shortly.

A solid finish from Pakistan has given them a strong total on the board. They accumulated 104 in the last 10 overs and 61 in the last five to sail past the 180-run mark. It was a comparatively sedate beginning from them though as they scored 42 in the Powerplay. Tendai Chisoro was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts. He kept on the pressure in the middle overs and picked up a couple of important wickets as well.

Blessing Muzarabani to Asif Ali. On middle and leg, Ali turns it through square leg for a single and calls for the second. The fielder makes a mess of it. That allows the batsmen to take three runs. PAKISTAN FINISH ON 182/4!

Blessing Muzarabani to Asif Ali. SIX! All the way! Slower ball on a length in line of the stumps. Ali lines it up and heaves it away over deep mid-wicket. That was hit with authority.

Blessing Muzarabani to Shoaib Malik. Very full ball outside off, Malik slices it away towards sweeper cover to rotate strike.

Blessing Muzarabani to Shoaib Malik. This time Shoaib gets under the length ball and heaves it towards deep mid-wicket. A couple taken.

Blessing Muzarabani to Shoaib Malik. The cutters are certainly gripping on this surface! This time it is the off cutter outside off, Malik tries to slog it with the angle but gets foxed.

Blessing Muzarabani to Shoaib Malik. Low full toss on off, Malik slogs it towards wide long on and manages to come back for a couple. That brings up the 50-run stand between the duo. They have played pretty well.

Solomon Mire to Asif Ali. Smart bowling from Mire! He spots Ali making room and he bowls a pinpoint yorker on middle. Ali can only block it down the pitch.

Solomon Mire to Shoaib Malik. Two Wides! Slower ball but it is down the leg side. Malik misses his heave and the keeper fails to collect it cleanly. A run taken.

Solomon Mire to Asif Ali. Mire is not giving Ali the length to get under it after he was hit for a maximum on the first ball of the over. Asif can only chip it over mid on for a single.

Solomon Mire to Asif Ali. Full ball in line of the stump, jammed out towards wide long on for a brace.

Solomon Mire to Asif Ali. Safe! Shortish ball climbing towards Ali. He mistimes his pull towards deep square leg. The fielder moves in to take it but the ball falls on the ground. A couple taken.

Solomon Mire to Asif Ali. Wide! Well outside off, Ali doesn't fiddle with it.

Solomon Mire to Asif Ali. Well bowled! The attempted leg cutter from Mire. It grips as well and moves away from Ali to fox him.

Solomon Mire to Asif Ali. SIX! Clean as a whistle! In the slot for Asif Ali, he stays steady and tonks it down the ground for a huge maximum. This young man certainly packs a punch.

We have been informed by sources that Jarvis has been taken to the hospital. Not a good news. Hopefully, he will be alright. Meanwhile, Mire comes back for a bowl.

Blessing Muzarabani to Shoaib Malik. SIX! Going, going, gone! Full ball just outside off stump, Malik with a nice extension of the arms hits it hard towards wide long off. The fielder is interested for a while but he can only see it sailing over him. 15 from this one.

Blessing Muzarabani to Shoaib Malik. The slower ball almost produces a wicket! On a length on leg stump, Malik backs away and tries to heave it away but gets it off the inner half of the bat just past the fielder at mid-wicket. A couple of runs are taken.

Blessing Muzarabani to Asif Ali. Very full ball attacking the stumps, Ali makes room and jams it to long on for a single.

Blessing Muzarabani to Shoaib Malik. Pitched up ball outside off, Malik chips it over wide mid off and gets a single.

Blessing Muzarabani to Asif Ali. Tight stump-to-stump line, clipped through mid-wicket for a run. The batsmen look for the second but it is not on.

Blessing Muzarabani to Asif Ali. FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished! Full ball and it is down the leg side, Ali whips it over short fine leg and the ball goes over the fence after bouncing once.

Blessing Muzarabani is back for his final spell.

Tendai Chisoro to Shoaib Malik. Malik backs away and Chisoro darts this one towards him. The batsman tries to help it away but is hit on the pads. The ball rolls beside the pitch on the off side as Shoaib wants to steal a run but the bowler is quick to deny him. End of a brilliant spell from Chisoro. He finishes with figures of 4-0-28-2.

Tendai Chisoro to Asif Ali. On middle and leg, knocked down to long on for a run.

Tendai Chisoro to Asif Ali. Asif makes room but Chisoro follows him. The batsman only manages to jam it back to the bowler.

Tendai Chisoro to Asif Ali. Ali tries to turn this one on the leg side but gets hit on the pads.

Tendai Chisoro to Asif Ali. Slow through the air, defended nicely off the front foot.

Tendai Chisoro to Shoaib Malik. Coming in with the arm, milked down to long on for a run.

Chamu Chibhabha to Asif Ali. SIX! Bang! Pitched up ball on off, Ali clears his front leg and goes downtown. The connection is great and the ball clears the fence with ease. 16 from the over, a good one for the visitors.

Chamu Chibhabha to Asif Ali. SIX! Tonked! Chibhabha misses his length and he pays the price for it. It is in the arc for Ali. With a steady head, he lines it up and smokes it over wide long on for a maximum.

Chamu Chibhabha to Shoaib Malik. Back of a length outside off, run down to third man for a single.

Chamu Chibhabha to Shoaib Malik. Malik makes use of the depth of the crease and turns the length ball through square leg for a couple.

There is a change in the field. Third man comes inside the circle.

Chamu Chibhabha to Asif Ali. Back of a length ball, punched off the back foot for an easy single.

Chamu Chibhabha to Asif Ali. Full ball attacking the stumps, pushed off the front foot to mid off.

Chibhabha returns for a bowl.

Tendai Chisoro to Asif Ali. Fullish in length, Ali eases it through wide mid off for a run. A successful over for Chisoro. A wicket and only 4 runs off the over.

Tendai Chisoro to Asif Ali. Shorter in length, kept out watchfully.

Asif Ali strides out to bat.

Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. OUT! Bowled 'em! A good contribution from Zaman comes to an end and Chisoro gets his second wicket! He bowls this one quicker through the air, on a flatter trajectory and on a shorter length as well. Zaman makes some room as he tries to hammer it away through mid-wicket but is beaten by pace. He ends up missing it completely to get the furniture behind him disturbed. The leg stump goes for a toss. The 42-run stand has been cut short.

Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. Tossed up on middle, played with the spin through mid-wicket for a brace.

Tendai Chisoro to Shoaib Malik. Fullish ball on middle and leg, clipped to long on for a run.

Chisoro is back on.

Ryan Burl to Shoaib Malik. Uses his feet and plays it down the ground for a run.

Ryan Burl to Shoaib Malik. Tossed up ball, kept out watchfully.

Jarvis is going off the field. Let us hope it is nothing serious.

Ryan Burl to Fakhar Zaman. Dropped! That was not an easy catch by any means. Slow through the air, Zaman uses his feet and goes through with his lofted shot but the timing is not that good. Jarvis at long on moves to his right and dives but the ball bursts through his hands, hits his body and falls down on the ground. A run taken. Kyle is looking in some pain.

Ryan Burl to Shoaib Malik. Tossed up ball, knocked down to long off for a run.

Ryan Burl to Fakhar Zaman. The batsman has driven it through mid off. One run added to the total.

Ryan Burl to Fakhar Zaman. FOUR! Almost bamboozled him there! Quick through the air, spinning in sharply. Zaman goes after it but gets a top edge over short third man. The ball races to the fence.

Ryan Burl to roll his arm over. Meanwhile, the replays show that in the previous over, Russell Tiffin gave an official warning to Fakhar Zaman. While he was going for the couple, he ran right through the danger zone. He needs to be careful.

Solomon Mire to Fakhar Zaman. Brilliant work in the deep! Shortish ball outside off, Zaman punches it through covers. Musakanda in the deep moves to his left, dives full length and keeps the ball in play. Saves a run for his side.

Solomon Mire to Fakhar Zaman. 2nd T20I fifty for Fakhar Zaman! He has been hit and miss at times but credit to him for keeping his composure. On the pads, turned through square leg for a brace. Raises his bat and gets an acknowledgement from the scanty crowd.

Solomon Mire to Shoaib Malik. The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. One run added to the total.

Solomon Mire to Fakhar Zaman. On a length on middle and leg, turned through mid-wicket for a single.

Solomon Mire to Shoaib Malik. Similar length ball outside off, Malik punches it off the back foot through covers for a run.

Solomon Mire to Shoaib Malik. FOUR! Shot! Short of a length and room on offer, Malik slaps it nicely past the point fielder and collects a boundary. 100 comes up for Pakistan. They are going along nicely at the moment. That shot also brings up 2000 runs for Shoaib in T20Is.

John Nyumbu to Shoaib Malik. 16 from it! The most expensive in this innings till now! This is quicker but Nyumbu offers width outside off. Malik guides it through short third man. Muzarabani from backward point hares after it, slides and he seems to have pulled it back in. The umpires go upstairs to check and replays show he has done fine. Saves a run for his side but a very good over for Pakistan.

John Nyumbu to Shoaib Malik. FOUR! That had hit-me written all over it! It was short and down the leg side. The bowler maybe felt, Malik would use his feet and fires it short. That is not the case and it becomes easy pickings for the batsman. He helps it on its way through short fine leg and the ball races to the boundary. 13 from the over so far.

John Nyumbu to Fakhar Zaman. Flatter outside off, Zaman stays in his crease and slaps it through point for a run.

John Nyumbu to Fakhar Zaman. SIX! All the way! Zaman moves onto 46 with that biggie. Once again, he steps down the track, gets to the pitch of it and clears long off with ease. His third maximum.

John Nyumbu to Shoaib Malik. Flatter on middle, Malik works it through mid-wicket for a run.

John Nyumbu to Fakhar Zaman. Floats it up outside off, Zaman goes over covers but a little too close to the sweeper. Only a single results.

Nyumbu is back into the attack.

Solomon Mire to Shoaib Malik. Fullish on middle, Malik strokes it to mid off. 2 dots to end the over. A tight one, just three from it.

Solomon Mire to Shoaib Malik. On a length around off, Malik lunges and keeps it out.

Solomon Mire to Shoaib Malik. There are shouts of catch it but it is in the gap! Shortish outside off, Zaman cuts it uppishly through backward point for a brace.

Solomon Mire to Fakhar Zaman. Slightly shorter outside off, Zaman guides it down to third man for a run.

Solomon Mire to Fakhar Zaman. Chance for a run out but not taken! A huge mix up there. A low full toss on middle, Zaman pushes it towards mid off. He sets off for a run. Masakadza at short cover runs to his left and makes a brilliant diving stop. Seeing that effort, Malik sends Zaman back. He slips as he turns but luckily for him, Hamilton's throw is a poor one and Fakhar makes it back with a dive. Zaman continues riding his luck.

Solomon Mire to Fakhar Zaman. Starts off with a length ball around off, Zaman pushes it to covers.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. OUT! Yes, Zimbabwe manage to find a breakthrough at the right time! Ahmed fails to make an impact. Some smart bowling from Chisoro has paid dividends. He floats this one up nicely in line of the stumps. Sarfraz is on the move as he tries to clip it through mid-wicket but closes his bat face early. As a result, a leading edge is induced and Musakanda at covers takes an easy catch. Shoaib Malik walks out to bat.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. Tight! Error in judgement from Ahmed! The skipper taps this one towards point and sets off for a run. However, there is none on offer as Zaman sends him back rightly. The fielder has a shy at the striker's end but misses. The replays show that it would have been very close had it hit.

Sarfraz Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman are rotating the strike nicely. Zimbabwe need to break this partnership.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. Slow through the air, kept out watchfully.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. Five wides! Shoddy stuff from the hosts. This one goes with the arm down the leg side. Ahmed tries to flick it but misses. Moor also fails to collect it as well as the ball goes past him and runs to the fence.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Floated ball in line of the stumps, Ahmed uses his feet and powers his drive past the bowler to pick up another boundary.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. FOUR! Nice skills from the Pakistani skipper! Fullish delivery outside off, Ahmed makes a bit of room and slices it uppishly past the point fielder. The timing is good and the ball whistles away to the fence.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. Tossed up outside off, Sarfraz eases it to covers.

Chamu Chibhabha to Fakhar Zaman. The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery.

Chamu Chibhabha to Fakhar Zaman. These two have been quite busy! Length ball outside off, guided towards third man. The fielder moves to his right and dives to make a good save. Two runs taken.

Chamu Chibhabha to Sarfraz Ahmed. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Chamu Chibhabha to Sarfraz Ahmed. The scoreboard keeps on ticking! Good length ball outside off, Ahmed taps it towards sweeper cover and comes back for a brace.

Chamu Chibhabha to Fakhar Zaman. Similar length ball outside off, Fakhar eases it through covers and takes an easy single.

Chamu Chibhabha to Sarfraz Ahmed. Full delivery attacking the stumps, eased through mid on for a run to change strike.

Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. Fullish delivery, Zaman turns it through mid-wicket. Some aggressive running between the wickets allows the batsmen to come back for a couple.

Tendai Chisoro to Fakhar Zaman. FOUR! Streaky runs! Tossed up ball around off, Zaman tries to go inside out over covers with the spin but gets a top edge. The ball flies over the man at short third man and rolls to the fence. Zaman is riding his luck today.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. On middle and leg, clipped to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. Sarfraz leans ahead again and defends this one right under his eyes.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. Tossed up ball, defended solidly off the front foot.

Tendai Chisoro to Sarfraz Ahmed. Good judgement! Slow through the air, Ahmed clips it through mid-wicket. Senses there is a couple in it and calls his partner through. 50 up for Pakistan. They have taken 43 deliveries to reach the mark. Time for some acceleration.

Tendai Chisoro comes into the attack.

Chamu Chibhabha to Sarfraz Ahmed. That ball has struck the batsman on the thigh pad. The batsmen have run through for a single. The umpire signals a leg bye.

Chamu Chibhabha to Fakhar Zaman. Brilliant fielding! Pitched up ball, driven crisply towards extra cover where the fielder dives to his left like a goalkeeper and makes a terrific stop. Only a single given.

Chamu Chibhabha to Fakhar Zaman. Back of a length ball, Zaman taps it past point and takes a brace.

Chamu Chibhabha to Sarfraz Ahmed. On middle and leg, turned to the leg side for a single.

The skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed comes out to bat.

Chamu Chibhabha to Hussain Talat. OUT! A soft dismissal! Talat was favouring the third man area but this time it proves to be his undoing. On a length, angling across Talat. He tries to run it down but only manages a thin edge behind. Moor moves to his left and takes it easily.

Chamu Chibhabha to Fakhar Zaman. Back of a length ball, punched off the back foot for a single.

Chamu Chibhabha to Fakhar Zaman. Wide! Starts off with a loosener. It is on a length and way outside off. Zaman goes for a cut but misses.

Chamu Chibhabha comes in for a burst.

Kyle Jarvis to Hussain Talat. Short of a length delivery, kept out watchfully. A decent Powerplay for Pakistan.

Kyle Jarvis to Hussain Talat. Beaten! Slower short ball around leg stump, Talat is ages early into his pull shot but misses. The ball just goes over the stumps. That was close.

Kyle Jarvis to Fakhar Zaman. In the air... but safe! Well-directed short ball on leg stump, Zaman goes for the big pull but gets a top edge. The ball flies towards backward square leg. Muzarabani runs to his right but fails to reach it. A single taken.

Kyle Jarvis to Hussain Talat. Talat stays leg side of the ball and guides it to third man to rotate strike.

Kyle Jarvis to Hussain Talat. Short of a length ball, pushed off the back foot to the off side.

Kyle Jarvis to Hussain Talat. Well bowled! In the avenue of apprehension, leaving the left-hander. Talat pokes at it and misses.

Jarvis is back on.

Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. SIX! Boom! Zaman makes room and Muzarabani follows him with a short ball. Fakhar goes on with his pull shot but gets a big top edge. The ball flies over backward square leg to clear the fence. 13 from the over.

Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Punched off the back foot by the batsman.

Blessing Muzarabani to Hussain Talat. Back of a length outside off, run down to third man for a run.

Blessing Muzarabani to Hussain Talat. Was that a nick? Probably not. Pitched up ball anglnig across Talat. He goes for a booming drive but seems to have missed it. Moor fails to collect it as well. The replays don't detect any sound.

Blessing Muzarabani to Hussain Talat. Erring in line, on the pads, turned through mid-wicket for a brace.

Blessing Muzarabani to Hussain Talat. FOUR! The timing is spot on! Slightly overpitched around off, Talat leans ahead and caresses it through extra cover to pick up a boundary.

John Nyumbu to Fakhar Zaman. Full outside off, pushed off the front foot to covers.

John Nyumbu to Fakhar Zaman. Outside off, Zaman pushes at it but misses.

John Nyumbu to Fakhar Zaman. FOUR! Shot! Tossed up ball, Fakhar skips down the track and powers it through wide mid off to find the fence.

John Nyumbu to Fakhar Zaman. SIX! That didn't look too convincing but eventually it was! Slow through the air around off, Zaman uses his feet in an attempt to go inside out over covers but ends up getting it towards wide long off. The timing is pretty good and the ball sails over the fence.

John Nyumbu to Fakhar Zaman. Uses his feet to this one but is not quite to the pitch of it. Ends up dragging it towards mid on.

John Nyumbu to Fakhar Zaman. Shorter in length outside off, played to short third man.

Change of ends for Nyumbu.

Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Edged but safe! On a length angling across Zaman. He closes his bat face early and hence, gets a leading outside edge past the first slip fielder. A run taken.

Blessing Muzarabani to Hussain Talat. Outside off, eased through covers for a run.

Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Close shave! Back of a length around off, chopped away towards covers. There is a bit of confusion but the batsmen finally go for the run. The fielder moves to his right and aims at the bowler's end but misses. The replays show that if that hit, it would have been touch and go.

Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Back of a length ball, Fakhar is cramped up for room as he chops it down to point.

Blessing Muzarabani to Fakhar Zaman. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Blessing Muzarabani to Hussain Talat. Good length ball on middle and leg, Talat tries to work it away but misses. The ball hits his pads and rolls down the pitch as the batsmen steal a run. No leg bye signaled by the umpire so it might have taken a faint inside edge.

Hussain Talat is the new man in. Meanwhile, Blessing Muzarabani comes into the attack.

Kyle Jarvis to Mohammad Hafeez. OUT! Jarvis draws first blood! A poor shot from Hafeez to throw his wicket away. Jarvis steams in and lands a good length ball in the tight off stump corridor. Mohammad skips down the track in order to power it down the ground but gets caught in an uncomfortable position. Ends up getting it off the outer half of the bat towards wide mid off. The skipper, Masakadza backtracks and keeps his eyes on the ball. Maintains his balance as well and takes a good catch with his fingers pointing upwards. He tumbles down after catching it. Just the start the hosts wanted.

Kyle Jarvis to Fakhar Zaman. Shortish ball on middle, pulled in front of square leg for a run.

Kyle Jarvis to Fakhar Zaman. Pitched up outside off, a nice stride forward by Fakhar as he drives it through covers and completes a brace.

Kyle Jarvis to Mohammad Hafeez. Fuller in length around off, eased to deepish mid off for an easy single.

Kyle Jarvis to Fakhar Zaman. Well played! Zaman is off the mark as well. Slightly overpitched outside off, Fakhar leans ahead and strokes it through covers. The fielder chases it and keeps the ball in play. Three runs are taken.

Kyle Jarvis to Fakhar Zaman. On a length around off, angling across the batsman. Zaman hangs back and defends it stoutly.

Kyle Jarvis to share the new ball from the other end.

John Nyumbu to Mohammad Hafeez. That was an optimistic shout! Floated outside off, extremely full. Hafeez tries to play the conventional sweep but misses to get hit on the boot. Nyumbu is excited but the umpire is quick to cut his excitement short. The impact was clearly outside off. Good beginning for the debutant.

John Nyumbu to Mohammad Hafeez. Outside off, pushed off the front foot to covers.

John Nyumbu to Mohammad Hafeez. Slow through the air outside off, Mohammad plays for the non-existent turn and gets beaten.

John Nyumbu to Mohammad Hafeez. Stays back to the shorter one and defends it off the back foot.

John Nyumbu to Mohammad Hafeez. SIX! Brilliant shot! Hafeez and Pakistan are underway. Tossed up generously in the same area, Hafeez kneels and plays the big sweep with authority. It is going, going and goes over the fielder at deep mid-wicket.

John Nyumbu to Mohammad Hafeez. Nice start! Tosses this one nicely around off and it skids after pitching. Hafeez tries to play it across the line but gets beaten.

There is a bit of a delay as Hafeez has an issue with the sightscreen. It seems to have been sorted.

The players make their way for their respective National Anthems. After the completion, we are set to get underway. Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez will open the batting for Pakistan. There are two debutants for the home side - John Nyumbu and Tarisai Musakanda. They get their caps and are wearing big smiles on their faces. Nyumbu will start off the proceedings with the ball. Here we go...

Pitch Report- Alistair Campbell assessing the surface says that it looks hard and there is a bit of sheen on it. Adds that there is a bit of moisture as well and the weather is cold. Ends by saying that the pace bowlers can expect good assistance.

TOSS - Zimbabwe win the toss and opt to bowl.

Pakistan, on the other hand, are currently ranked 1 in T20Is. They will be eyeing to put up a comprehensive performance. It is a good platform for them to stamp their authority. However, they need to be wary of being complacent. It is such a format where if you put a foot wrong, it can cost you dearly. Stay with us as we will bring you the toss in a while...

Hello and a warm welcome to the coverage of the first game. Bright blue skies welcome us at the Harare Sports Club. However, the situation for the hosts is not that promising. The announcement came a day before that Hamilton Masakadza will captain Zimbabwe. It will be interesting to see how the veteran handles a side which is low on experience. Pairing up against an opposition who are on top of their game is a steep task in itself but when the going gets tough, the tough get going.