Pakistan wrap up T20 series with 15-run win
Umar Akmal top scored for Pakistan as they completed a 2-0 Twenty20 series victory over Zimbabwe.
Pakistan wrapped up their two-match Twenty20 series with Zimbabwe on Tuesday with a 15-run victory in Harare.
After winning the first match on Sunday, Pakistan produced a devastating display with the ball to restrict their hosts for 121-7, having earlier made 136-6 from their 20 overs.
That score - inspired by Umar Akmal's unbeaten 38 - matched the one they achieved in the opening clash of their tour and was again enough to secure the win, Shahid Afridi's bowling attack working superbly as a unit to seal the series 2-0.
Having won the toss Pakistan made a steady start with four of the top five all providing solid contributions. Only Ahmed Shehzad failed to make it to double figures as he was caught at point off Tinashe Panyangara (2-27) for seven.
Mohammad Hafeez struck a quick-fire 17 at the top of the order before Sohaib Maqsood (26) and Shoaib Malik (15) put on 30 for the third wicket.
When Akmal came to the crease with the score 72-4, Pakistan needed a late boost to reach a competitive total and he more than able to provide it.
His unbeaten 38 came off 28 balls and anchored the end of the tourists' innings, ably supported by Mohammad Rizwan (16) and Imad Wasim (13 not out).
Zimbabwe's attempts to avoid a series defeat got off to a dreadful start as Afridi's bowlers stuck to tight lines from the start, quickly building up pressure within the home batting line-up.
That pressure duly told as they lost their first four wickets for just 24 runs, Mohammed Irfan (2-25), Sohail Tanvir (1-18) and Wasim (1-14) all enjoying early success.
Sean Williams (40no) and Sikandar Raza (36) provided some brief respite for Zimbabwe with a fifth-wicket partnership of 60 that raised the slim hopes of saving the game.
Although boundaries were hard to come by the pair worked the gaps well, but Raza's dismissal in the 17th over signalled the beginning of the end for Zimbabwe.
Elton Chigumbura added 17 from eight deliveries down the order but the task in front of the hosts' was too much and they came up short for a second successive match.















