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Skipper Babar Azam smashed a sturdy half-century to guide Pakistan’s six-wicket rout of Zimbabwe within the first Twenty20 worldwide in Rawalpindi on Saturday. Azam proved but once more why he is without doubt one of the high batsmen in white-ball cricket with a horny 55-ball 82 to anchor Pakistan’s chase of a modest 157-run goal in 18.5 overs. The win offers Pakistan a 1-Zero lead within the three-match sequence and a 12th straight win over Zimbabwe in all Twenty20 worldwide cricket. Wesley Madhevere struck a maiden half-century to guide Zimbabwe to 156-6 after they gained the toss and batted. Azam, decided to regain his place as Twenty20’s high batsman — which he misplaced to England’s Dawid Malan two months in the past — punched 9 boundaries and a six throughout his 80-run stand for the third wicket with Mohammad Hafeez, who made 36.
Azam was lastly caught within the 17th over, as was Hafeez within the 19th, however the goal was by no means past Pakistan.
Paceman Blessing Muzarabani completed with 2-26.
Zimbabwe, who upset Pakistan within the third one-day worldwide on the finish of their 2-1 loss within the previous sequence, have been by no means in a position to cease Azam’s free-flowing stroke play regardless of dismissing Fakhar Zaman (19) and Haider Ali (seven) by the eighth over.
Earlier, Zimbabwe added 46 within the final 5 overs with Madhevere within the lead.
Madhevere, the 20-year-old right-hander, struck a 48-ball 70 not out with 9 boundaries and a six to assist Zimbabwe put up a decent whole.
Madhevere, who had solely 4 runs in his earlier two Twenty20 appearances, added 34 runs for the sixth wicket with Elton Chigumbura, who made a 13-ball 21 with a six and two boundaries.
Sean Williams (25) and Brendan Taylor (20) have been the opposite contributors.
For Pakistan, pacemen Haris Rauf and Wahab Riaz took two wickets apiece.
Promoted
Pakistan gave a Twenty20 worldwide debut to 27-year-old spinner Usman Qadir, son of the good Abdul Qadir, who died final 12 months.
The groups will meet once more on the identical venue on Sunday and Tuesday.
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