Sufiyan Muqeem creates T20I history for Pakistan in their one-sided win against Zimbabwe

The 25-year-old Pakistan left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem created a new history in Pakistan cricket as they thrashed Zimbabwe in the second T20I to secure the away three-match T20I series by leading it 2-0 with one to go. 

After Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza chose to field first, they were bundled out for their lowest T20I total of 57 runs. Pakistan openers comfortably chased the target without losing any wickets in 5.3 overs. 

Zimbabwe: 57 all out

Zimbabwe openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani started the T20I match strongly by scoring 37/0 in four overs. However, once that opening partnership was broken, they experienced a complete batting collapse. Zimbabwe lost their ten wickets by only adding 20 runs. Only the openers Bennett (21) and Marumani (16) reached the double-digit marks in that innings.

The 57 all out was the new record for Zimbabwe in the lowest completed T20I total. Their previous lowest T20I total was 82 all out against Sri Lanka in Colombo (RPS) on January 18, 2024. 

See Also: Haris Rauf creates new T20I record for Pakistan

Sufiyan Muqeem records best T20I bowling figures for Pakistan

All the Pakistan bowlers performed strongly. Apart from Jahandad Khan, who delivered only one over, all other Pakistan bowlers picked up at least one wicket. While Abbas Afridi recorded 2-1-2-2, Sufiyan Muqeem, who was playing his seventh T20I match, recorded his first T20 fifer and ended the innings with the bowling figures of 2.4-0-3-5. 

Muqeem recorded the best T20I bowling figures by a Pakistan bowler. Umar Gul previously held the record for the best bowling figures for Pakistan with the bowling figures of 3-0-6-5 against New Zealand in 2009 during the ICC World T20 2009. 

New Zealand won by 10 wickets

Pakistan openers Saim Ayub (36.*) and Omair Yousuf (22*) had no hiccups as they chased the target in just 5.3 overs. It was Pakistan's third 10-wicket win in their T20I history after their 2021 Dubai win against India and the 2022 Karachi win against England. Meanwhile, as Pakistan won the T20I with 87 balls remaining, it was the fastest T20I chase for Pakistan by balls remaining in the second innings. Their previous record in this list was winning the 2024 Rawalpindi T20I against New Zealand with 47 balls remaining.