LAHORE: Mukhtar Ahmed starred with another blazing half-century before Pakistan overcame a late order collapse to secure a tense two-wicket victory over Zimbabwe to wrap the two-match Twenty20 International series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

After winning Friday’s opening fixture — the first full international on home soil in more than six years — by five wickets, Pakistan were cruising smoothly towards a target of 176 when they lost their second wicket at the total of 81 in the ninth over. But Zimbabwe hit back with three more wickets to have the home side struggling at 130-5 two balls into the 15th over.

Needing 12 from the final over, Pakistan heaved a sigh of relief when Bilawal Bhatti smashed seamer Brian Vitori over long-on for a six before completing the job with a cover-driven boundary on the fourth ball to trigger joyous scenes at the jam-packed stadium.

Bilawal ended up making 13 off nine balls and partnering him at the finish was debutant all-rounder Imad Wasim (4).

Mukhtar, playing just his third T20, carried on from where he left off on Friday with a belligerent 83 off 45 balls by striking a 40-ball 62 that included six boundaries and a six before he was fourth out at 117, falling to occasional spin of Sialkot-born Sikandar Raza.

The 22-year-old opener from Sialkot was later adjudged man-of-the-match as well as man-of-the-series while Pakistan retained their fifth place in the ICC team rankings for Twenty20 Internationals.

What should have been a convincing victory, particularly when Mukhtar was finding the gaps freely Pakistan almost gave it away through a mixture of bad shot selection and poor running. Also, Shoaib Malik’s latest comeback ended in another disappointment. After the former skipper had returned tidy figures of one for 23 in four overs with his off-spinners, Malik carelessly ran himself out for only seven — the same score he made on Friday.

Ahmed Shehzad and Mukhtar launched the chase in an electrifying fashion as they put on 44 when Shehzad was dismissed by Vitori for 18.

Nauman Anwar, one of three changes in the side which played the first game, played a couple of delightful strokes on his international debut but having scored 18 from 10 balls, he was caught on the edge of the boundary while trying to hit spinner Prosper Utseya for his second six.

Umar Akmal contributed a quick 30, while hitting two sixes and a four in his 21-ball knock, but failed to finish the job as he was trapped leg-before-wicket by Christopher Mpofu.

Sean Williams followed up his maiden T20 half century by grabbing the wickets of Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and Anwar Ali while Mpofu also took two wickets.

Earlier, Zimbabwe posted a competitive 175-3 after Elton Chigumbura called correctly at the toss for the second game running. Hamilton Masakadza set the tone in a brisk opening stand of 68 with Vusi Sibanda. Masakadza struck four fours and one six in scoring 39 off 32 balls.

Sibanda fell one short of his first T20 50 when he was caught in the deep off Afridi after having made 49 from 46 balls with two fours and one six.

It was then left to Williams to take the centre stage. The 28-year-old left-hander remained unbeaten on a 32-ball 58, while hitting seven boundaries and one six.

Chigumbura further boosted the total with a quickfire 21 off only nine deliveries. He messed up fast bowler Mohammad Sami’s bowling figures by hammering three consecutive sixes in the 18th over.

Both teams made changes to their line-ups. The hosts brought in wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, Nauman Anwar and Imad Wasim while resting Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz and Sarfraz Ahmed.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, replaced Tinashe Panyangara and Richmond Mutumbami withr Utseya and Chamu Chibhabha.

The two sides will play a series of three One-day Internationals, starting from Tuesday at the same venue.

Scoreboard

ZIMBABWE:

V. Sibanda c Anwar Ali b Afridi49H. Masakadza c Anwar Ali b Malik39S.C. Williams not out58E. Chigumbura c Ahmed Shehzad b Sami21C.K. Coventry not out2

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-2, NB-2)6

TOTAL (for three wkts, 20 overs)175

FALL OF WKTS: 1-68, 2-136, 3-168.

DID NOT BAT: Sikandar Raza, C.J. Chibhabha, P. Utseya, A.G. Cremer, B.V. Vitori, C.B. Mpofu.

BOWLING: Anwar Ali 3-0-31-0 (1nb); Mohammad Sami 4-0-38-1; Bilawal Bhatti 3-0-31-0 (1nb, 2w); Imad Wasim 2-0-14-0; Shahid Afridi 4-0-36-1; Shoaib Malik 4-0-23-1.

PAKISTAN:

Ahmed Shehzad c Sibanda b Vitori18Mukhtar Ahmed c Sibanda b Sikandar62Nauman Anwar c Sibanda b Utseya18Shoaib Malik run out7Umar Akmal lbw b Mpofu30Shahid Afridi c Sikandar b Williams7 Mohammad Rizwan c Sikandar b Mpofu6Anwar Ali b Williams2Imad Wasim not out4Bilawal Bhatti not out13

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-4, W-3)9

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 19.4 overs)176

FALL OF WKTS: 1-44, 2-81, 3-95, 4-117, 5-130, 6-152, 7-155, 8-161.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Sami.

BOWLING: Mpofu 4-0-25-2 (1w); Vitori 3.4-0-36-1 (1w); Williams 4-0-32-2; Utseya 4-0-31-1 (1w); Cremer 2-0-27-1; Sikandar Raza 2-0-19-1.

RESULT: Pakistan won by two wickets to win series 2-0.

UMPIRES: Ahsan Raza and Ahmed Shahab (both Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: Shozab Raza (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: Azhar Khan (Pakistan).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mukhtar Ahmed.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Mukhtar Ahmed.

FIRST MATCH: Pakistan won by five wickets.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play