Pakistan young off-spinner Usman Tariq delivered a match-winning performance in Rawalpindi, guiding his team to a dominant 69-run victory against Zimbabwe in the ongoing T20I Tri-Series 2025. With this win, Pakistan sealed their place in the tri-series final, while Usman Tariq added his name to an elite list by taking a sensational hat-trick.
Hat-Trick Hero in Only His Second Match
The 27-year-old spinner produced the moment of the match in the 10th over of Zimbabwe’s chase. He dismissed Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, and Wellington Masakadza on three consecutive deliveries to complete a historic hat-trick.
With this, Usman Tariq became only the fourth Pakistani bowler to take a hat-trick in T20 Internationals—joining the elite group of Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Hasnain, and Mohammad Nawaz.
Usman finished with brilliant figures of:
- 4 overs
- 18 runs
- 4 wickets
- 1 hat-trick
- Player of the Match award
A dream spell for a bowler playing just his second international match.
Zimbabwe Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing Pakistan’s massive 195-run target, Zimbabwe never looked comfortable. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, and only Ryan Burl fought till the end with a gritty 67 off 49 balls*.
Apart from Burl, not a single Zimbabwean batter could cross 25. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Usman Tariq, dominated from the start. Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 126 runs in 19 overs, losing the game by 69 runs.
Pakistan Strong Batting Sets Up Big Total
Earlier in the match, Pakistan opted to bat first and posted an impressive 195/5:
- Babar Azam – 74 (52 balls)
- Sahibzada Farhan – 63 (41 balls)
- Fakhar Zaman – 27 off 10 balls
The top order ensured Pakistan maintained a strong strike rate throughout the innings. Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled except for Sikandar Raza, who picked up 2 wickets.
Pakistan Unbeaten, Zimbabwe Struggling
This win marked Pakistan’s third consecutive victory in the tri-series, keeping them unbeaten so far. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have managed only one win, while Sri Lanka are still searching for their first victory.
