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LUKE JONGWE has become Zimbabwe’s highest wicket-taker against Pakistan in T20Is, and leads the bowling charts by some distance. 

He claimed nine wickets across the three matches, at an average of 8.55, and took 3 for 33 in the decider yesterday, all of them big wickets. 

His first came in his opening over when he attempted a wide yorker, which became an ankle-high full-toss that Sharjeel Khan hit with the toe-end of the bat to Muzarabani. 

Jongwe bowled two mid-innings overs, one of which went for 14 runs, and was then tasked with the final over where he dismissed Azam and Fakhar Zaman in successive deliveries. 

Azam fell to a slower ball as he tried to clear long-on and was caught just inside the boundary by Burl. 

Zaman went exactly the same way and tried to smash a low full-toss over the boundary. 

Burl had to make some ground to get to the ball, and took it low down. Jongwe conceded just seven runs in that over to ensure Zimbabwe finished strongly. 

In the end, it was the visitors who won, by 24 runs, with Hasan Ali and Mohammad Hasnain saving them the blushes and securing them a T20I series win over Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe had a chance of pulling off a surprise win and completing their third-highest-successful chase after Wessly Madhevere’s second career half-century took them to 78 for 1 at the halfway stage, well on track to reach the target of 166. 

But, they were unable to maintain their scoring rate and it ballooned on them in the next few overs, thanks to pressure from Hasnain and Ali, who forced a collapse. 

Zimbabwe lost six wickets for 39 runs from midway into the 14th over and finished 24 runs short. 

Ali picked up a career-best 4 for 18 and reached a landmark 150 T20 wickets as he finished as Pakistan’s best bowler on the day. 

He received good support from Hasnain, who got 1 for 26, as Pakistan recovered well after their other seamers leaked runs. 

Zimbabwe registered the most productive powerplay of the series and scored 48 runs in their six overs for the loss of just one wicket. 

The decision to use Madhevere to open the innings paid off handsomely as he set the tone and took 11 runs off the first over, including back-to-back boundaries off Hasnain. 

He went on to show his ability on both sides with a strong drive off Hasnain and a powerful pull off Faheem Ashraf. 

Tarisai Musakanda contributed ten off 11 balls before he was hit high on the back leg and given out lbw. 

Zimbabwe hit seven fours in the powerplay compared to Pakistan’s six. 

Madhevere went on to score his second T20I half-century, and second against Pakistan, which he brought up with a drive through the covers off the 37th ball he faced.

Despite a climbing required run-rate, Zimbabwe would have considered themselves on track at the end of the 13th over, on 101 for 1. 

After two fairly expensive overs, Hasnain was brought back to bowl the 14th. 

His first was full on off stump but Madhevere was unable to hit it through the covers as planned. 

The next rushed Madhevere and he got a single. The third ball did the damage as Tadiwanashe Marumani tried to hoick it over midwicket but inside-edged on to his stumps. 

That ended a 65-run second-wicket partnership and brought Brendan Taylor to the crease. 

He saw off two dot balls before getting a single, which meant the over only cost two runs and Pakistan were back in it. 

At the other end, Ashraf conceded five runs in the next over before Ali replaced Hasnain and seized the advantage. 

Zimbabwe needed to score more than 11 runs an over for the last five and Madhevere knew that. 

He tried to hook a Hasan slower ball but skied it and Sarfaraz Ahmed took a good catch to the sounds of Ali’s “boom” celebrations. 

Three balls later, Regis Chakabva paddled a ball to short fine-leg to depart for a first-ball duck. Ali took 2 for 4 in that over and then returned to end the contest in the penultimate over. Zimbabwe needed 34 off the last 12 balls and Sean Williams had to go big. 

He tried to hit a slower ball over midwicket but with a still-injured left hand, he wasn’t able to find the middle of the bat and holed out to Ashraf in the deep. 

That wicket gave Ali career-best returns in T20Is. — ESPN/Cricinfo