He returned with exceptional figures of 5/3.
During the second match of the three-match ZIM vs PAK T20I series, a new Pakistani player gave a glimpse of his bowling brilliance by recording the best bowling figures in the shortest format for his country.
Playing in only his sixth T20I game, 25-year-old Sufiyan Muqeem returned with career-best figures of 5 for 3 to help dismantle Zimbabwe for a paltry 57 and set the stage for Pakistan’s comfortable 10-wicket victory. to win the series in the decider. match at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo today (December 3).
The next best bowling figure by a Pakistan cricketer in T20Is is held by Umar Gul, who ended with a run of 5/6 against New Zealand during the 2009 T20 World Cup.
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Sufiyan Muqeem made an immediate impact and started by striking twice in his first over. Ryan Burl was sent off early and Tashinga Mushekiwa was dismissed for a duck. In his next over, he again played twin blows (Wellington Masakadza and Richard Ngarava) as Zimbabwe’s collapse continued by reducing them to their lowest T20I total, all in just 13 overs. Muqeem claimed his fifth wicket when he dismissed Clive Madande, completing a remarkable five-wicket haul.
In response, Pakistan chased down the modest total with ease. Omair Yousuf took charge, hitting Sikandar Raza on boundaries (one over covers and another beyond short fine leg), disrupting the spinner’s pace. Saim Ayub, who had already hit a boundary off Richard Ngarava, teamed up with Yousuf to take on Blessing Muzarabani in the third over.
After Ayub sent one to the boundary, Yousuf hit a six over deep point. The pair kept up the pressure, continued their attack on Trevor Gwandu, and Pakistan comfortably overcame the target inside the powerplay.
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