Jongwe four-for hands Zimbabwe historic T20 win over Pakistan to level series 1-1

Zimbabwe beat Pakistan for the first time in a Twenty20 international on Friday, with four-wicket Luke Jongwe the star of a shock 19-run triumph at Harare Sports Club.

A maiden victory in 16 attempts seemed unlikely when the tourists restricted the hosts to a meagre 118-9 with Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (34) the only batsman to impress.

But right-arm medium pacer Jongwe (4-18) wreaked havoc and Zimbabwe bowled out Pakistan for 99 in 19.5 overs.

It was the lowest total defended in a T20 international in Harare and victory for Zimbabwe levelled the three-match series at 1-1 ahead of the decider at the same venue Sunday.

Pakistan arrived in Zimbabwe brimming with confidence after completing a double in South Africa, winning a one-day international series 2-1 and a T20 series 3-1.  A T20 victory at home has been a long time coming for Zimbabwe as they last succeeded five years ago, against India.

“It was big turnaround for us after the first game,” said Brendan Taylor, the stand-in captain for rested Sean Williams, referring to the recovery from a 11-run loss in the first match two days ago.

Set a run-a-ball victory target, Pakistan lost star opener Mohammad Rizwan for only 13 and Azam (41) was the lone batsman to offer much resistance.

Jongwe captured the prized wickets of Rizwan and Azam, and those of Haris Rauf and Arshad Iqbal as the Pakistan tail collapsed.

Rizwan faced only 18 balls and hit one four before being caught by Tarisai Musakanda as Jongwe claimed his first victim.

Fellow opener Azam struck five fours and then became the fourth Pakistan batsman to fall, leaving the tourists on 78-4 after 15.5 overs.

With wickets falling cheaply, the tourists began the final over on 99-7 and needing 20 runs to snatch a dramatic victory. But instead of a run fest, the wickets of Usman Qadir, Rauf and Iqbal fell without any addition to the scoreboard.

Earlier, opener Kamunhukamwe starred for Zimbabwe with his contribution including four fours in a 60-minute stand. His innings ended when caught by Azam off the bowling of Danish Aziz, who was making his second appearance for the tourists.

Fellow opener Taylor lasted only seven balls before being caught by Mohammad Hafeez off a Faheem Ashraf delivery for five.

Six Pakistan bowlers captured wickets with Mohammad Hasnain (2-19) and Aziz (2-29) the most successful. After the T20 series, Zimbabwe and Pakistan will play two Tests in Harare, beginning on April 29 and May 7.

Agence France-Presse

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe
T Kamunhukamwe c Azam b Aziz34
B Taylor c Hafeez b Ashraf    5
T Marumani c Rizwan b Iqbal    13
W Madhevere b Aziz    16
R Burl c Rizwan b Qadir    3
R Chakabva lbw b Rauf    18
T Musakanda b Hasnain    13
L Jongwe c Fakhar b Hasnain    7
W Masakadza run out (Hasnain)    0
B Muzarabani not out    1
R Ngarava not out    1

Total (9 wkts, 20 overs)    118
Bowling: Mohammad Hasnain 4-0-19-2, Faheem Ashraf 2-0-10-1, Arshad Iqbal 4-0-16-1, Haris Rauf 3-0-10-1 (1w), Usman Qadir 4-0-28-1, Danish Aziz 3-0-29-2

Pakistan
Rizwan c Musakanda b Jongwe    13
Babar Azam c Madhevere b Jongwe41
Fakhar c Musakanda b Burl    2
Hafeez c Masakadza b Burl    5
Danish Aziz run out    22
Asif Ali c (Tiripano) b Ngarava    1
Faheem c Burl b Muzarabani    2
Usman Qadir run out    0
Haris Rauf c Taylor b Jongwe    6
Mohammad Hasnain not out    0
Arshad Iqbal c Burl b Jongwe    0

Total (19.5 overs)    99
Bowling: Muzarabani 4-0-24-1 (1w), Ngarava 3-0-10-1, Jongwe 3.5-0-18-4 (2w), Madhevere 3-0-16-0 (2w), Burl 4-0-21-2 (1w), Masakadza 2-0-9-0