Cricket is more than just a sport in many parts of the world—it’s a passion, a way of life, and a source of pride for nations. When the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, fans from both sides are glued to their screens, eagerly watching every ball, run, and wicket. These matches are often filled with drama, skill, and unforgettable moments. In this article, we’ll dive into the exciting details of a recent clash between Zimbabwe and Pakistan, breaking down the match scorecard in a way that’s easy to understand for fans of all ages. We’ll also provide a detailed table summarizing the key moments, so you can relive the action or catch up if you missed it!
A Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Rivalry Steeped in History
Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard have faced off numerous times in international cricket, with Pakistan holding a dominant record in most formats. According to historical data, Pakistan has won 56 out of 65 ODI matches against Zimbabwe, with Zimbabwe securing just 6 victories, one tie, and two no-results. In T20Is, Pakistan has been equally commanding, but Zimbabwe has occasionally pulled off stunning upsets, making their encounters unpredictable and exciting.
The 2024–25 Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe, held in November and December, featured a three-match ODI series and a three-match T20I series at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. This tour was a chance for Zimbabwe to showcase their young talent and for Pakistan to fine-tune their squad ahead of major tournaments like the Champions Trophy. Let’s zoom in on the first ODI and third T20I from this series, as they provide a perfect snapshot of the competitive spirit between these two teams.
The First ODI: Zimbabwe’s Stunning Upset
The first ODI on November 24, 2024, was a game that caught everyone by surprise. Zimbabwe pulled off a remarkable 80-run victory over Pakistan via the DLS method (a system used to adjust targets in rain-affected matches). Let’s break down what happened.
Zimbabwe’s Batting Innings
Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision that paid off thanks to their aggressive start. Openers Joylord Gumbie and Tadiwanashe Marumani set the tone with a fiery approach, putting pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers early on. Gumbie scored a steady 40 off 55 balls, while Marumani added a quickfire 29 off 41 balls, including two fours and a six. However, a mix-up led to a collapse, with Zimbabwe slipping from a strong position to 99/5 by the 19th over.
Enter Sikandar Raza and Richard Ngarava, who stitched together a crucial 62-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Raza, the Zimbabwean captain, played a gritty knock of 39 off 56 balls, while Ngarava’s 48 off 52 balls (with five fours and a six) gave Zimbabwe’s total some respectability. Despite losing wickets regularly, Zimbabwe managed to post 205 all out in 40.2 overs. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Salman Agha and debutant Faisal Akram (both taking three wickets), kept things tight, but Zimbabwe’s lower order ensured a competitive score.
Pakistan’s Batting Innings
Chasing 206, Pakistan needed a solid start, but Zimbabwe’s bowlers had other plans. Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava struck early, removing openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique cheaply. By the 18th over, Pakistan were reeling at 58/6, with Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams spinning a web around their middle order. Raza’s 2/6 and Williams’ 1/10 were game-changers, leaving Pakistan’s batters clueless. Mohammad Rizwan, the Pakistan captain, showed some fight with 16 off 34 balls, but rain intervened, and the match was called off. Zimbabwe won by 80 runs under the DLS method, a massive upset that gave them a 1-0 lead in the series.
Key Moments
- Zimbabwe’s Aggressive Start: Gumbie and Marumani’s positive intent set the platform.
- Raza-Ngarava Partnership: Their 62 runs turned a shaky innings into a defendable total.
- Pakistan’s Collapse: Losing six wickets for just 58 runs was a disaster for the visitors.
- Spin Dominance: Raza and Williams’ spin bowling dismantled Pakistan’s batting lineup.
The Third T20I: A Consolation Win for Zimbabwe
Fast forward to December 5, 2024, for the third T20I, where Zimbabwe clinched a thrilling 2-wicket victory to avoid a series whitewash. Pakistan had already sealed the T20I series 2-1, but this match showed Zimbabwe’s fighting spirit.
Pakistan’s Batting Innings
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, but their innings got off to a rocky start. Openers Saim Ayub and Omair Yousuf fell early, leaving Pakistan at 42/3 in the powerplay. Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir tried to stabilize things, but wickets kept falling. Late contributions from Arafat Minhas and Abbas Afridi helped Pakistan reach 132/7 in 20 overs. Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, taking 2 wickets, while the rest chipped in to keep Pakistan’s total in check.
Zimbabwe’s Batting Innings
Chasing 133, Zimbabwe’s openers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Brian Bennett started confidently, racing to 56/1 in the powerplay. Bennett’s aggressive 37 off 27 balls set the tone, but a familiar collapse saw Zimbabwe slump to 120/7. Pakistan’s spinners, including Sufiyan Muqeem, tightened the screws, and it looked like Pakistan would wrap things up. However, 21-year-old Tinotenda Maposa turned the game on its head, smashing a four and a six in the final over off Jahandad Khan to guide Zimbabwe to 133/8 with one ball to spare.
Key Moments
- Pakistan’s Early Wobble: Losing both openers in the first three overs put them on the back foot.
- Zimbabwe’s Powerplay: Bennett’s attacking batting gave Zimbabwe a strong start.
- Mid-Innings Collapse: Zimbabwe’s loss of wickets from 73/1 to 120/7 nearly cost them.
- Maposa’s Heroics: His 12 off 4 balls in the final over sealed a dramatic win.
Full Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Table
Below is a detailed Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard table summarizing the key performances from the first ODI (November 24, 2024) and the third T20I (December 5, 2024) between Zimbabwe and Pakistan.
Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
First ODI – November 24, 2024, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Result: Zimbabwe won by 80 runs (DLS method)
Zimbabwe Batting (205/10 in 40.2 overs)
|
Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Joylord Gumbie |
40 | 55 | 4 | 0 | 72.73 |
|
Tadiwanashe Marumani |
29 | 41 | 2 | 1 | 70.73 |
|
Dion Myers |
8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
|
Craig Ervine (c) |
6 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Sean Williams |
23 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 135.29 |
|
Sikandar Raza |
39 | 56 | 6 | 0 | 69.64 |
|
Brian Bennett |
20 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Brandon Mavuta |
1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.29 |
|
Richard Ngarava |
48 | 52 | 5 | 1 | 92.31 |
|
Blessing Muzarabani |
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Trevor Gwandu |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Fall of Wickets: 40/1 (Gumbie, 5.5), 58/2 (Myers, 9.1), 67/3 (Ervine, 12.4), 83/4 (Marumani, 15.1), 99/5 (Williams, 19.1), 124/6 (Bennett, 24.2), 125/7 (Mavuta, 25.4), 187/8 (Raza, 37.1), 187/9 (Muzarabani, 37.4), 205/10 (Ngarava, 40.2)
Pakistan Bowling
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mohammad Hasnain |
8 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 5.75 |
|
Haris Rauf |
7.2 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 5.04 |
|
Aamer Jamal |
8 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 5.75 |
|
Faisal Akram |
8 | 0 | 37 | 3 | 4.62 |
|
Salman Agha |
8 | 0 | 31 | 3 | 3.87 |
|
Saim Ayub |
1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 |
Pakistan Batting (60/6 in 21 overs)
|
Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saim Ayub |
8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
|
Abdullah Shafique |
0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Kamran Ghulam |
17 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 62.96 |
|
Mohammad Rizwan (c) |
16 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 47.06 |
|
Salman Agha |
4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
|
Haseebullah Khan |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Irfan Khan |
7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 63.64 |
Fall of Wickets: 11/1 (Shafique, 2.5), 17/2 (Ayub, 4.4), 40/3 (Ghulam, 12.1), 49/4 (Agha, 15.2), 49/5 (Khan, 15.4), 58/6 (Irfan, 18.5)
Zimbabwe Bowling
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Blessing Muzarabani |
4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1.50 |
|
Richard Ngarava |
4 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 4.00 |
|
Trevor Gwandu |
2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 |
|
Sean Williams |
4 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 2.50 |
|
Sikandar Raza |
2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3.00 |
Third T20I – December 5, 2024, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Result: Zimbabwe won by 2 wickets
Pakistan Batting (132/7 in 20 overs)
|
Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saim Ayub |
6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
|
Omair Yousuf |
6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
|
Usman Khan |
24 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 114.29 |
|
Salman Agha |
29 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 90.63 |
|
Tayyab Tahir |
28 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 112.00 |
|
Qasim Akram |
10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 90.91 |
|
Arafat Minhas |
15 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 150.00 |
|
Abbas Afridi |
12 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 |
Fall of Wickets: 18/1 (Ayub, 2.3), 18/2 (Yousuf, 2.5), 42/3 (Usman, 7.4), 91/4 (Agha, 14.2), 100/5 (Tahir, 16.2), 110/6 (Akram, 18.1), 132/7 (Afridi, 19.6)
Zimbabwe Bowling
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Richard Ngarava |
4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 |
|
Blessing Muzarabani |
4 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 |
|
Tinotenda Maposa |
4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
|
Wellington Masakadza |
3 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 7.33 |
|
Sikandar Raza |
3 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 6.00 |
|
Trevor Gwandu |
2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 5.00 |
Zimbabwe Batting (133/8 in 19.5 overs)
|
Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tadiwanashe Marumani |
32 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 160.00 |
|
Brian Bennett |
37 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 137.04 |
|
Dion Myers |
4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 |
|
Sikandar Raza (c) |
38 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 146.15 |
|
Ryan Burl |
2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
|
Clive Madande |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Wessly Madhevere |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Wellington Masakadza |
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Tashinga Musekiwa |
2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
|
Tinotenda Maposa |
12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 300.00 |
|
Richard Ngarava |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
Fall of Wickets: 12/1 (Bennett, 2.1), 18/2 (Myers, 3.2), 77/3 (Marumani, 8.2), 87/4 (Burl, 10.3), 95/5 (Madande, 12.3), 102/6 (Raza, 13.5), 102/7 (Masakadza, 14.3), 120/8 (Musekiwa, 19.3)
Pakistan Bowling
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Haris Rauf |
3 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 5.66 |
|
Abbas Afridi |
3 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 6.66 |
|
Abrar Ahmed |
3 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 9.00 |
|
Sufiyan Muqeem |
4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 5.00 |
|
Jahandad Khan |
3.5 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 8.28 |
|
Salman Agha |
3 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 5.00 |
What Made These Matches Special?
Zimbabwe’s Resilience
Zimbabwe’s performance in these matches showed their potential to compete with top teams. The first ODI victory was a testament to their ability to capitalize on Pakistan’s weaknesses, especially in batting against spin. The third T20I highlighted their never-say-die attitude, with young players like Tinotenda Maposa stepping up under pressure. Despite their inconsistent record, Zimbabwe’s knack for pulling off upsets keeps fans hopeful.
Pakistan’s Dominance and Struggles
Pakistan, known for their unpredictability, showed both brilliance and vulnerability. Their batting collapse in the first ODI was a rare off-day, but they bounced back strongly in the subsequent ODIs to win the series 2-1. In the T20Is, their bowlers, particularly Sufiyan Muqeem, were outstanding, but lapses in the field and inconsistent batting allowed Zimbabwe to sneak a win in the final game.
Standout Players
- Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe): The captain led from the front with bat and ball, scoring crucial runs and taking key wickets.
- Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe): His disciplined bowling was a constant threat to Pakistan’s batters.
- Salman Agha (Pakistan): A reliable all-rounder, contributing with both bat and ball across formats.
- Tinotenda Maposa (Zimbabwe): The young star’s match-winning cameo in the third T20I was a highlight.
Why These Matches Matter
For Zimbabwe, these games were a chance to prove they belong on the international stage. Their victory in the first ODI sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, showing that they can challenge stronger teams. For Pakistan, the series was an opportunity to test their young players and build momentum for future tournaments. The mix of experience and youth on both sides made for compelling cricket.
Final Thoughts
The Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in 2024–25 were a rollercoaster of emotions, with moments of brilliance, heartbreak, and sheer drama. Zimbabwe’s upset in the first ODI and their thrilling win in the third T20I showed their potential to compete with the best. Pakistan, despite their dominance, learned valuable lessons about consistency. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket fan or just starting to follow the game, these matches were a perfect example of why cricket is so loved—every ball can change the story.
