Nawaz Shines with Ball and Bat as Pakistan Edge Past Zimbabwe in a Thrilling Final Over
In a dramatic T20I clash between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, Mohammad Nawaz emerged as the hero, delivering an all-round performance that guided Pakistan to a narrow five-wicket victory in Rawalpindi on November 18, 2025. The match, which went down to the wire, saw Pakistan chase down Zimbabwe’s modest total of 147 with just four balls to spare.
Zimbabwe, after being put in to bat, had started confidently, reaching 72 for 1 by the eighth over, looking set to post a target well over 180. However, a sudden collapse in their middle-order saw them lose seven wickets for just 37 runs. Nawaz played a crucial role in the turnaround, first breaking through with the ball to trigger the collapse. He removed Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl in quick succession, finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 22 in his four overs. Pakistan’s spinners, led by Nawaz, kept Zimbabwe in check, drying up the runs and forcing errors. The visitors could only manage 147/8 in their allotted 20 overs, with Sikandar Raza’s unbeaten 34 off 24 balls being the lone bright spot.
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Pakistan’s chase didn’t get off to a smooth start either. The Zimbabwean seamers, led by Brad Evans, dominated the powerplay, removing both Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam in quick succession. Tinotenda Maposa then trapped Salman Agha, leaving Pakistan in deep trouble at 31 for 3 by the end of the powerplay. Things didn’t improve much as Saim Ayub fell to Graeme Cremer’s legspin, pushing the required rate to nine runs per over. Cremer, making a return to T20Is after more than seven years, was economical, finishing with 1 for 27 from three overs.
At this point, Pakistan’s chase seemed to be faltering, but Fakhar Zaman, playing his comeback T20I match, steadied the ship with a vital 44 off 32 balls. He formed a crucial 61-run partnership with Usman Khan, who remained unbeaten on 37, to bring Pakistan back into contention. With the required rate climbing again, Nawaz was called upon to finish the job. He had a stroke of luck when he was dropped on nine by Brian Bennett, but Nawaz made the most of this reprieve. He struck a six and two fours, ensuring Pakistan crossed the line with ease. Nawaz sealed the win with a boundary, taking his side to 151/5 in 19.2 overs.
This thrilling victory, achieved in the final over, highlighted Nawaz’s crucial contribution with both bat and ball, and though Pakistan faced early setbacks, they ultimately showed resilience to secure the win.
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