Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed had plenty to celebrate after his side thumped Zimbabwe by 74 runs in the T20I tri-series opener at Harare on Sunday.
Sarfraz’s men won their eighth consecutive T20I clash as they garnered their 12th win in their last 13 outings. With the win over the hosts, Sarfraz took his tally of wins as Pakistan’s T20I skipper to 20 which is the most in the country’s history.
The astonishing fact is that the 20 wins have come in just 23 matches for the No1 ranked side in the world.
On Sunday, Fakhar Zaman scored a career-best 61 off 40 balls before late unbeaten cameos by Asif Ali (41) and Shoaib Malik helped Pakistan post 182-4 after being asked to bat first.
Pakistan’s bowling attack proved to be too good for the hosts.
In reply, the hosts were all out for just 108 runs with Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan and Mohammad Hafeez picking up two wickets each.
“The way Zaman, Asif, and Malik did the job for us, it looked like a good batting pitch. The ball did not come on in the first innings, but in the second it came on nicely. Credit goes to the bowlers, especially Usman and Nawaz. Plenty of cricket to be played in the series. Hopefully, we will do well,” the victorious Pakistan skipper said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Sarfraz’s in-form men will now take on Australia in the second clash of the tri-series just 24 hours later on Monday.