Pakistan VS Zimbabwe T20 Series 
1st Match (Day Night) Played at Rawalpindi, 7 November 2020
Brief Scorecard:
Pakistan 157/4 in 18.5 Overs (Babar Azam 82, Mohammad Hafiz 36, B Muzarabani 2/26) beat Zimbabwe 156/6 (W Madhvere 70*, SC Williams 25, BRM Taylor 20, Haris Rauf 2/25, Wahab Riaz 2/32) by 6 wickets 
Player of Match: Babar Azam. 

It was all elegance and grace when Babar bats. He was in his true elements once again when producing yet another top-quality innings of 82 yesterday at Pakistan Captain Rawalpindi as he led his team to an easy win against Zimbabwe in the 1st match of the T20 series. 

Batting first the tourist posted impressive 156/6 when young Madhvere appearing only his 3rd T20 international scored flamboyant unbeaten 70 in 45 deliveries against a quality Pakistan attack. Pakistan made it a cakewalk as apart from Babar, professor Hafiz also played an useful innings of 36. Scoring 157/4 in 18.5 overs Pakistan won the match by 4 wickets. Seeing Babar bat one remembers Maestros Javed Miandad and Zaheer Abbas of their hey days. Babar is definitely of the level of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Joe Root. He is the going to get back his thrown as the best T20 batsman soon from David Malan. 

Zimbabwe kept their improvement going on this tour. It is true that they do not have enough quality players to challenge the multi-faceted quality Pakistan attack. But with youngster like Madhvere playing the innings that he did yesterday it can be safely concluded that Zimbabwe is slowly and assuredly going to grow again soon. His unbeaten 70 in 45 balls comprising of 9 fours and a six was of top quality. If only either of two matured batsman BRM Taylor (20) or SC Williams (25) could bat deep Zimbabwe could post 180 plus. That score could have challenged Pakistan. But nevertheless, playing Haris Rauf (2/25), Wahab Riaz (2/32), Mohammad Hasnain (1/25), Usman Qadir (1/24) is not that easy.
 
Pakistan desperately requires one of their top order batsmen apart from Babar get back into form as their next playing destination is New Zealand. Kiwis have a great attack and condition is vastly different. All knows Babar and his quality. Hafiz is not going to be there too long. In hey days of Pakistan they had Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Asif Iqbal apart from their great bowling attack. Now Pakistan has a great bowling attack but not too many great batsmen to test the best in the business. 

Anyway, it was a vintage Babar once again. His innings is always a treat to watch. Not a single stroke is played with anger or arrogance.  Another classic innings of 82 showed why he is rated in the same bracket along with Kohli, Williamson, Smith and Labuschange in all formats. 

Off the Zimbabwe bowling Muzarabani (2/26) continues to impress . Pakistan won easily by 6 wickets scoring 157/4 with 7 balls to spare . Babar was adjudged the player of the match. 

BDST: 1250 HRS, NOV 08, 2020
SMS