LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan won its first home series in last six years after it beat Zimbabwe in the second T20 international by two wickets at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday night.
Earlier, while batting first Zimbabwe scored 175 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in allotted 20 overs. The middle-order batsman SC Williams remained top scorer for Zimbabwe with 58 runs. For Pakistan, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Sami took one wicket each.
In reply, Pakistan achieved the target in 19.4 overs for the loss of eight wickets. The opening batsman Mukhtar Ahmad again played a brilliant innings of 62 runs.
Mukhtar Ahmad was declared man of the match as well as the player of the series.
It was Pakistan’s first home series win against any Test playing side in last six years as no international cricket team arrived in Pakistan during this period following Sri Lankan team attack in Lahore in March 2009.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has felicitated the Pakistan cricket team on winning the two-match series against the visiting Zimbabwean team.
In his remarks, he expressed the confidence that the team would continue its good performance in the upcoming one day matches as well.
The prime minister said that Zimbabwe won the hearts of Pakistani people by playing an important role in reviving international cricket in Pakistan.
Now the two-match T20 series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will be followed by a three-match one-day international (ODI) series at the same venue. The first ODI will be played on May 26, second on May 29 whereas last encounter will take place on May 31.
