Mystery spinner Usman Tariq delivered a jaw-dropping spell at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday night, grabbing a sensational hat-trick and finishing with match-winning figures of 4 for 18 as Pakistan crushed Zimbabwe by 69 runs in the T20I tri-series.
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The victory sealed Pakistan’s place in the November 29 final — and electrified a packed Rawalpindi crowd that erupted the moment the 25-year-old became just the fourth Pakistani bowler to take a T20I hat-trick.
Chasing 196, Zimbabwe folded for 126 in 19 overs. Their collapse was triggered spectacularly in the 10th over when Usman ripped through the middle order, reducing them from 60 for 4 to 60 for 7 in just five balls. Tony Munyonga top-edged a sweep, Tashinga Musekiwa was bowled trying to play across the line, and Wellington Masakadza holed out to long-on — a stunning sequence that broke Zimbabwe’s chase completely.
Earlier, Pakistan’s pace attack struck early blows. Naseem Shah removed Tadiwanashe Marumani for four, Mohammad Wasim Jr cleaned up Brian Bennett for nine, and Faheem Ashraf dismissed Brendan Taylor for eight. Zimbabwe’s hopes rested on Sikandar Raza, whose brief counterattack of 23 off 18 ended when he found the fielder in the deep.
Ryan Burl stood tall with a brilliant unbeaten 67 off 49 balls, cracking eight fours and two sixes — including a monstrous 101-metre hit — but he received zero support as wickets tumbled around him. He added 44 for the last wicket with Richard Ngarava, but the match was long gone.
Pakistan’s imposing 195 for 5 was powered by a late explosion from Fakhar Zaman, who smashed an unbeaten 27 from just 10 deliveries. His assault in the final two overs turned the game, including a 25-run hammering of Brad Evans in the last over with two towering sixes, a four, and a lucky no-ball reprieve.
Before the fireworks, Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan built a superb 103-run stand for the second wicket. Farhan continued his fine form with 63 off 41, while Babar crafted a polished 74 off 52 after a slow start. The pair rebuilt smartly after Saim Ayub’s early dismissal for 13.
A brief stumble in the middle overs left Pakistan at 167 for 5, but Fakhar’s late blitz ensured a strong total on a surface offering grip and low bounce for the spinners.
Usman’s heroics then took over — and Pakistan marched confidently into the final.
