PAK vs ZIM | Twitter impressed as Tariq trick powers Pakistan home after Babar-Farhan show with bat

Yesterday at 1:24 PM

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 69 runs in the fourth match of the T20 Tri Series in Rawalpindi on Sunday. Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan came up with stroke-filled half-centuries to power the hosts to a formidable total before Usman Tariq registered a hat-trick to bundle out Zimbabwe for a modest total.

‌Usman Tariq came up with a stunning spell to help Pakistan continue their unbeaten run in the T20I Tri Series 2025 in Rawalpindi. The off-spinner registered a hat-trick, in only his second T20I, en route to picking up 4/18 in four overs to condemn Zimbabwe to a 69-run loss on Sunday.

After opting to bat first, Pakistan had a good start, but a rush of blood cost opener Saim Ayub his wicket. After starting the third over with consecutive sixes of Brad Evans, the left-handed batter tried in vain to clear the ropes, getting caught at the square leg boundary. However, fellow opener Sahibzada Farhan helped the hosts end the powerplay on a high with two sixes of Richard Ngarava as the score read 53/1 after the six-over mark. Meanwhile, Babar Azam started slowly from the other end before back-to-back boundaries off skipper Sikandar Raza in the 13th over. In the next over, Farhan reached his fifty, in 35 balls, as the home side sat comfortably at 118/1 with six overs remaining. Babar also completed his half-century in the next over before Farhan was cleaned up by Raza while trying to up the scoring rate. The opener hit three sixes and four fours during his 41-ball 63 and added 103 runs for the second wicket with the former Pakistan captain. Post Farhan’s dismissal, Babar shifted gears to smash two fours and two sixes in a five-ball blitz. Once he departed for 74, with seven fours and two sixes in his 52-ball knock, Fakhar Zaman took over, plundering 25 runs in the final over of the innings. His 10-ball 27 powered the Men in Green to 195/5, while spinner Raza ended with figures of 2/39 in four overs.

In reply, the visitors’ top order endured a collapse with all three batters getting out cheaply inside four overs, with the score reading just 25. Though Raza and Ryan Burl sealed the immediate damage with a 34-run stand for the fourth wicket, Tariq’s introduction spelled doom for the home side. The off-spinner ran through the middle order to complete a hat-trick in his second over as the African unit had a shocking slide from 59/3 to 63/8 in the gap of three overs. Burl hit eight fours and two sixes and remained unconquered on 67 off 49 balls to take Zimbabwe past the 100-run mark. Apart from Tariq, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz picked up 2/21 in four overs as they bowled out the visitors for 126 with an over to spare.

Hatrick!

In just his second game, Usman Tariq has become the fourth Pakistani player to take a hattrick in T20Is
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz)

Well played!

No answers for Usman Tariq in Rawalpindi 👊 📲 …
— Love Bird😍😍😍 (@Lovebird134)

Dream!

Usman Tariq said, "I really wish and dream of winning a game for Pakistan against India single-handedly."
— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_)

In 2nd T20I!

HAT-TRICK IN JUST HIS SECOND T20I 🤯🔥

Usman Tariq shines! Only the fourth Pakistan bowler to claim a T20I hat-trick 👏🇵🇰
— انا دمی فلسطینی 🇵🇸 (@MannMoji14)

Hatrick!