Pakistan Zimbabwe cricket clash delivered a masterclass performance at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as Pakistan stormed into the T20I Tri-Series final with an emphatic 69-run victory over Zimbabwe on November 23, 2025. Captain Babar Azam’s elegant 74 runs combined with Sahibzada Farhan’s explosive 63, while Usman Tariq’s sensational hat-trick (4-18) dismantled the Zimbabwe batting order, sealing Pakistan’s ninth consecutive win in the tournament. The hosts put on a commanding display of power-hitting and clinical bowling to book their spot in the final with one match still remaining in the round-robin stage.
Table of Contents
- Match Overview: Pakistan Zimbabwe Tri-Series Showdown
- Babar Azam’s Batting Masterclass
- Sahibzada Farhan’s Explosive Start
- Pakistan’s Power-Hitting Display
- Usman Tariq’s Devastating Hat-Trick
- Zimbabwe’s Batting Collapse
- Key Match Statistics
- Comprehensive Summary
Match Overview: Pakistan Zimbabwe Tri-Series Showdown
The Pakistan Zimbabwe encounter in the fourth match of the T20I Tri-Series witnessed Pakistan’s complete dominance at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. After winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bat first and posted an imposing total of 195/5 in their 20 overs, with Babar Azam leading from the front with a classy 74 off 52 balls. Zimbabwe’s chase never got going as they were bundled out for just 126 in 19 overs, with only Ryan Burl (67*) offering any resistance. The 69-run victory margin confirmed Pakistan’s place in the final and demonstrated the gulf in class between the two sides on the night.
Babar Azam’s Batting Masterclass
Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam showcased his immense class and technique with a sublime knock of 74 runs from 52 deliveries, studded with five boundaries. Coming in at number 3, Babar steadied the innings after an early wicket and formed a crucial 103-run partnership with Sahibzada Farhan for the second wicket. His innings was a perfect blend of classical stroke-play and intelligent batting, rotating the strike consistently while punishing the loose deliveries. Babar reached his fifty off 42 balls and continued to accelerate, providing the perfect platform for the late onslaught. His dismissal in the 15th over didn’t derail Pakistan’s momentum as the foundation had been firmly laid.
Sahibzada Farhan’s Explosive Start
Opening batsman Sahibzada Farhan provided Pakistan with the perfect start, smashing 63 runs off just 35 balls with three fours and two sixes. Farhan’s aggressive approach from the outset put Zimbabwe’s bowlers on the back foot immediately. He raced to his fifty in just 35 balls, showing his intent to dominate the powerplay and middle overs. His partnership with Babar Azam of 103 runs came in just 76 balls, setting the tone for Pakistan’s imposing total. Farhan’s ability to find boundaries regularly and rotate strike efficiently made him the ideal foil for Babar’s more measured approach, and together they built a platform that proved insurmountable for Zimbabwe.
Pakistan’s Power-Hitting Display
After the solid foundation laid by Babar and Farhan, Pakistan’s middle and lower order unleashed a brutal assault in the final overs. Fakhar Zaman provided the perfect finish, smashing an unbeaten 27 off just a handful of deliveries, including three massive sixes in the final over that yielded 25 runs. The last five overs saw Pakistan plunder 73 runs, taking their total from 122/3 to a formidable 195/5. The death-overs batting display demonstrated Pakistan’s depth and power-hitting capabilities, with Brad Evans being particularly expensive, conceding runs at over 12 per over. Pakistan reached their 150-run mark in the 17th over and never took their foot off the accelerator.
Usman Tariq’s Devastating Hat-Trick
Young leg-spinner Usman Tariq produced the spell of the match, claiming a stunning hat-trick as part of his magnificent figures of 4-18 from 4 overs. Tariq struck crucial blows in the middle overs, removing Zimbabwe’s top and middle order batsmen with his variations and accuracy. His hat-trick came during Zimbabwe’s collapse, as he dismissed three batsmen in quick succession to effectively end any hopes of a successful chase. The leg-spinner’s ability to generate turn and bounce on a relatively good batting surface showcased his immense talent. Tariq’s performance was the standout bowling effort in a match where Pakistan’s bowlers worked in perfect harmony to dismantle Zimbabwe’s batting lineup.
Zimbabwe’s Batting Collapse
Zimbabwe’s chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost early wickets in the powerplay, slumping to 60/5 in just 9.2 overs. Only Ryan Burl showed any resistance with a fighting unbeaten 67 off 49 balls, including five fours and two sixes, but his heroics came in a losing cause as he ran out of partners at the other end. Brian Bennett’s early dismissal for just a few runs set the tone for the collapse, and none of the other batsmen could get going against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack. Mohammad Nawaz supported Tariq brilliantly with 2-21, maintaining pressure from the other end. Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 126 in 19 overs, falling 70 runs short of the target and suffering a heavy defeat that dented their net run rate significantly.
Key Match Statistics
- Pakistan Total: 195/5 in 20 overs
- Zimbabwe Total: 126 all out in 19 overs
- Victory Margin: 69 runs
- Top Scorer Pakistan: Babar Azam 74 (52 balls, 5 fours)
- Top Scorer Zimbabwe: Ryan Burl 67* (49 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes)
- Best Bowling Pakistan: Usman Tariq 4-18 (4 overs)
- Best Bowling Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza 2-39 (4 overs)
- Century Partnership: 103 runs (Babar & Farhan, 76 balls)
- Pakistan’s Winning Streak: 9 consecutive victories in the series
- Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan
Comprehensive Summary
The Pakistan Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series clash on November 23, 2025, will be remembered as a comprehensive display of Pakistan’s dominance across all departments. Babar Azam’s classy 74 and Sahibzada Farhan’s explosive 63 laid the foundation for a massive total of 195/5, with Fakhar Zaman’s late fireworks ensuring Pakistan crossed the 190-run mark. Zimbabwe’s chase never took off as Usman Tariq’s sensational hat-trick (4-18) ripped through their batting order, leaving only Ryan Burl to fight a lone battle with his unbeaten 67. The 69-run victory sealed Pakistan’s spot in the final with one match still to play, extending their winning streak to nine consecutive games in the tournament. With both bat and ball firing on all cylinders, Pakistan sent a strong message to their opponents ahead of the final. The comprehensive nature of this victory, coupled with the individual brilliance on display, made this match a memorable chapter in Pakistan’s T20I Tri-Series campaign.
