Shehzad, Afridi Crush Zimbabwe

Harare: Pakistan backed up their thorough batting show with a fine bowling performance as Pakistan won the 1st T20I by 25 runs at Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Zimbabwe had their moments where they stretched Pakistan with a confident start in their chase of 162, but tackling the spinners in the middle overs was always going to be the bigger proposition.

Pakistan's spin trio - led by Shahid Afridi - put the stranglehold on the scoring with regular wickets and the hosts found the target rapidly slipping away from them.

Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad struck an aggressive 70 to guide Pakistan 161 for 5.

Although Pakistan lost a couple of early wickets as Zimbabwe made a disciplined start in the field, Shehzad increasingly took control of the innings to guide the tourists to 161 for five on a dry pitch.

Seamer Tendai Chatara did the damage up front, dismissing Nasir Jamshed and captain Mohammad Hafeez cheaply as Pakistan slumped to 21 for two.

However Zimbabwe let their visitors off the hook with a number of wides, allowing Shehzad to find his feet without feeling undue pressure.

After Umar Amin fell to spinner Prosper Utseya, who was the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers, Shehzad shared in a 55-run stand with debutant Sohaib Maqsood and added impetus to the innings by taking 17 runs from Elton Chigumbura's first over.

Shehzad struck six fours and a six in his 50-ball innings before he was eventually caught on the boundary off the bowling of Shingirai Masakadza.

Shahid Afridi ensured that Pakistan finished strongly, hitting 23 not out from 16 deliveries.

Earlier, Zimbabwe have won the toss and they decided to field. Sohaib Maqsood debut for Pakistan

Teams

Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Brendon Taylor (Capt. & wk), Timycen Maruma, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Tendai Chatara, Shingi Masakadza, Brian Vitori

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez (Capt.), Umar Amin, Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan
 
Brief scores
Pakistan 161 for 5 (Shehzad 70, Afridi 23*)
Zimbabwe 136 for 5 (Sibanda 31, Taylor 32*)
Result Pakistan won by by 25 runs
MOM Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan)