Zimbabwe win consolation T20 against Pakistan with late flourish

BULAWAYO: Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by two wickets in the last of their three-match Twenty20 series at the Queens Sports Club on Thursday, a consolation win after heavy defeats in the first two clashes.

Zimbabwe scrapped past the target of 132 with one ball to spare in an exciting finish for home supporters with Richard Ngarava scoring the winning run. Pakistan had won by 57 runs and 10 wickets in the first two T20 internationals and fielded a much changed line-up for the last encounter and scratched their way to 132-7 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat first.

Zimbabwe were always in the hunt after opener Brian Bennett top scored with 43 off 35 balls but they were still 12 runs shy of victory going into the last over. Tinotenda Maposa hit a four and a six off the first two balls of the last over to set up the home victory as Zimbabwe squeezed through to 133-8.