Pakistani bowler Sufiyan Muqeem delivered an extraordinary performance in the second T20I against Zimbabwe on Tuesday in Bulawayo. His stellar bowling display secured him a spot in the elite group of bowlers from full-member nations who have achieved a five-wicket haul in T20Is while conceding fewer than five runs.
In an extraordinary 2.4-over spell, Sufiyan Muqeem dismantled the opposition by taking five wickets for just three runs, setting a new benchmark for Pakistan in T20I cricket. His remarkable figures of 5/3 surpassed former pacer Umar Gul’s 5/6 against New Zealand in 2009.
Muqeem joined an elite group of bowlers who have achieved this rare milestone, including Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath (5/3 against New Zealand in 2014), Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (5/3 against Ireland in 2017), and India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5/4 against Afghanistan in 2022).
Muqeem’s brilliance directed Zimbabwe’s lowest-ever total in T20I history—a paltry 57 runs. Having elected to bat after winning the toss, Zimbabwe was left to rue their decision as Muqeem’s commanding spell wreaked havoc on their batting lineup.
Despite a steady start from Zimbabwe’s openers, Abbas Afridi made the initial breakthrough by removing Tadiwanashe Marumani. From a promising 37/1, Zimbabwe suffered a dramatic collapse, losing their final nine wickets for just 20 runs.
In reply, Saim Ayub and Omair Yousuf easily chased down the target, completing the run chase within the powerplay to seal a commanding 10-wicket triumph for Pakistan and confirming the series win for Pakistan with a 2-0 lead. Pakistan etched its name in history as the first team to chase down a target in a T20I between two full-member nations within the powerplay. The Salman Agha-led squad also shattered Australia’s record for the most dominant victory while chasing in a T20I clash between two Test-playing nations.
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Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
