The third and final T20I between Pakistan and Zimbabwe was played on December 5, 2024, at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. With Pakistan already having secured the series by winning the first two matches, this game was a chance for Zimbabwe to avoid a whitewash.
Teams Overview
Pakistan entered the match on a high, aiming for a clean sweep. They exhibited a dominant display throughout the series, particularly in their bowling department. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, sought to regain some pride and demonstrate their potential against a formidable opponent.
Key Players
For Pakistan, Sufiyan Muqeem emerged as a standout player, with an impressive five-wicket haul in the second T20I. His spin bowling was expected to play a crucial role once again. Saim Ayub, known for his aggressive batting style, was another key player to watch.
Zimbabwe relied heavily on their captain Sikandar Raza, who is known for his all-round capabilities. Blessing Muzarabani was expected to spearhead their bowling attack and break the Pakistani top order.
Head-to-Head
Prior to this match, Pakistan led the head-to-head record against Zimbabwe in T20Is with 18 wins out of 21 matches. The last match saw Pakistan securing a comprehensive victory by 10 wickets.
Probable Playing XI
Pakistan:
- Omair Yousuf
- Saim Ayub
- Usman Khan (wk)
- Salman Agha (c)
- Tayyab Tahir
- Irfan Khan
- Jahandad Khan
- Abbas Afridi
- Abrar Ahmed
- Haris Rauf
- Sufiyan Muqeem
Zimbabwe:
- Brian Bennett
- Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk)
- Dion Myers
- Sikandar Raza (c)
- Ryan Burl
- Clive Madande
- Tashinga Musekiwa
- Wellington Masakadza
- Richard Ngarava
- Blessing Muzarabani
- Trevor Gwandu
Live Streaming
India:
- TV Channel: Sony Pictures Network (Specific channel to be announced)
- Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website
Pakistan:
- TV Channel: Asports
- Live Streaming: Tamasha App, Tapmad
Pitch Report
The Queens Sports Club pitch in Bulawayo generally favors spinners due to its dry and slow nature. Batsmen often find it challenging to score freely on this surface, making the spinners a critical aspect of the game. The pitch conditions suggested that the bowlers, particularly spinners, would have a significant impact on the match outcome.
Probable Scenarios
With the series already won, Pakistan was likely to experiment with their lineup and provide opportunities to new or fringe players. Zimbabwe, aiming to avoid a series sweep, would likely field their best XI to mount a strong challenge against Pakistan.
Match Predictions
Considering Pakistan’s dominant performance in the first two matches and their strong spin attack, they were the favorites to win the third T20I as well. Zimbabwe’s key players, particularly Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani, needed to deliver exceptional performances to challenge Pakistan and secure a win.
In the end, Pakistan once again demonstrated their prowess by winning the third match, securing a clean sweep of the series. Sufiyan Muqeem’s impressive spell, taking 5 wickets for just 3 runs, played a significant role in Zimbabwe being bowled out for 57 runs. Pakistan chased down the target in just 5.3 overs, winning the match by 10 wickets.
This victory underscored Pakistan’s dominance in the T20 format against Zimbabwe, showcasing their strong all-round performance throughout the series.
