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

So, that is it from this game! The result has panned out how everyone expected it to. Pakistan win the first game of the tri-series and quite convincingly. They now face a tougher challenge as they face Australia on the 2nd of July at (0800 GMT) 1000 local. Till then, goodbye and take care.

Pakistan skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed, says they were eager to win the first game and they have done so. Credits the way Zaman played at the start and Asif played at the end. He feels the ball was coming onto the bat nicely but there was movement at the beginning. Admits they were quite lethargic in the field but their bowlers did the job for them. Ends by saying plenty of cricket is left and he hopes to do well.

Asif Ali has been awarded the Man of the Match for his power-hitting. He finished with 41 from just 21 balls and provided Pakistan the much-needed impetus they needed.

Zimbabwe skipper, Hamilton Masakadza, says that a poor Powerplay put them under pressure and they were never in the game during the chase. He feels Pakistan scored 20 runs extra which was a lot on this wicket. Ends by saying they failed to execute their plans but they need not change anything as of now.

The Pakistan bowling once again was at its best. Mohammad Nawaz along with his opening partner Usman Khan were the pick of the bowlers. The spinner provided the breakthroughs at the start and the pacer chipped in with the wickets at the end. The two combined with figures of 7-0-22-4. only Hussain Talat had a day to forget with the ball. The rest played their part with 5 of the 7 bowlers having a wicket to their name.

A dominating display by Pakistan, justifying why exactly they are at the top of the T20I rankings. To be honest, it was all set up by their batsmen as they gave the hosts a target which according to me was above par on this surface. Chasing 183, the top order had to fire for Zimbabwe but that was not the case. They lost two in the Powerplay with not many on the board. Mire and Musakanda, who was their top scorer, did try to bring the chase back on track but wickets at regular intervals saw them get nowhere close to where they had to be at the end.

Mohammad Hafeez to Blessing Muzarabani. OUT! That is it! Hafeez finishes things off as he gets two in his first over. This is nicely tossed up on off, it turns back in. Muzarabani throws the kitchen sink at it but does not connect. The ball hits the top of middle. PAKISTAN WIN BY 74 RUNS!

Mohammad Hafeez to John Nyumbu. Worked with the turn through mid-wicket for a run.

Mohammad Hafeez to John Nyumbu. Driven towards the mid off region.

Mohammad Hafeez to Ryan Burl. OUT! Hafeez too has a wicket to his name! Burl tries to be innovative and goes for the reverse sweep. Hafeez gives him no pace to work with. Burl still goes ahead with the shot, he gets a top edge which balloons to short third man where Malik runs to his right and accepts a dolly.

Mohammad Hafeez to Ryan Burl. Floats this up on off, Burl makes room and hits it over covers for a brace.

Usman Khan to Blessing Muzarabani. Fuller on middle, Muzarabani works it to mid-wicket.

Usman Khan to Tendai Chisoro. OUT! Second in the over for Khan! This is a brilliant delivery, not a lot the tailender could have done about it. On a length around off, this one straightens after pitching. Chisoro goes back and tries to keep it out but the ball takes the outside edge and goes into the mitts of the keeper.

Usman Khan to Ryan Burl. Hits it hard down to long on for a run.

Usman Khan to Tendai Chisoro. A yorker on off, the batsman digs it out towards mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Usman Khan to Ryan Burl. Comes down the track and flashes at a ball outside off, it goes towards sweeper cover for a run.

Usman Khan to Tarisai Musakanda. OUT! No fifty for Musakanda as he falls 7 runs short. Usman gets his first. It is on a length around off, TM goes for the heave but only gets a top edge which goes high up in the air towards Shadab at mid off. He runs back and takes a neat catch.

Faheem Ashraf to Tarisai Musakanda. The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. One run added to the total.

Faheem Ashraf to Tarisai Musakanda. Fuller on middle, Musakanda hits it through mid-wicket and the batsmen run two.