Tariq hat-trick sees Pakistan as first team to qualify for final

T20I Tri-Series

Monday, 24 November 2025 03:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Babar Azam slogs one away during his knock of 74 off 52 balls

Sahibzada Farhan set the tone for Pakistan with 63 off 41 balls

Usman Tariq’s hat-trick wrecked Zimbabwe’s innings

Ryan Burl top-scored for Zimbabwe with an unbeaten 67

Half-centuries from Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan, coupled with a hat-trick by off-spinner Usman Tariq, saw Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by a thumping margin of 69 runs at Rawalpindi yesterday and become the first team to book a place in the final of the T20I Tri-Series.

It was Pakistan’s third win in as many games in the Tri-Series and their fifth in a row in the T20I format.

Ryan Burl alone stood tall for Zimbabwe with an undefeated 67 off 49 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes). His knock not only allowed Zimbabwe to record their highest-ever 10th wicket partnership in a T20I – 44 with Richard Ngarava (5) – but also dragged themselves out of Net Run Rate trouble.

Only two batsmen got into double figures in Zimbabwe’s total of 126 off 19 overs, which included four extras. Both their openers got out in the space of five balls to pace, and the bleeding never stopped. Sikkander Raza (23) and Burl did well to gain some sort of control with a 26-run stand for the fourth wicket, and, once the skipper departed, Zimbabwe crumbled like a pack of cards. They ended up gifting six successive wickets to spin, which included a career best for Player of the Match Usman Tariq (4/18), who also became only the second Pakistan spinner to claim a hat-trick in T20I cricket. Burl threw caution to the wind and smashed a few balls towards the end, helping his side reduce the defeat margin eventually.

A 103-run stand off 77 balls between Farhan and Babar Azam set a solid base after the early loss of Saim Ayub. Pakistan then lost some momentum with quick wickets and lack of runs but Fakhar Zaman’s 10-ball 27* (1 four, 3 sixes) ensured Pakistan got that rate up again and the score close to usual Pindi standards. Babar was slow at the beginning but once he reached his fifty, he timed the ball sweetly with placement to race to 74 off 52 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes). Farhan earlier played his part with a fine innings of 63 off 41 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes).

Zimbabwe pulled this back in the 18th and 19th overs but Brad Evans leaked 41 runs in his last 11 balls to spoil the show for his side. Pakistan hit 10 sixes – their most against Zimbabwe.

Scores:

Pakistan 195-5 (20) (Sahibzada Farhan 63, Babar Azam 74, Fakhar Zaman 27*, Sikandar Raza 2/39)

Zimbabwe 126 (19) (Sikandar Raza 23, Ryan Burl 67*, Mohammad Nawaz 2/21, Usman Tariq 4/18)