HARARE – En route to his third half-century of the T20I triangular seriesin Harare, Fakhar Zaman became the highest run scorer in T20Is during 2018while also securing the record for scoring most runs in a series forPakistan on Sunday.
The left-handed batsman, 28, also crossed the 500-run mark in the calendaryear, becoming only the third batsman to do so after India’s Virat Kohliand Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad.
Zaman has also secure his position among the top five Pakistani playerswith the highest individual score of 91 against Aussies.
Pakistan defeated Australia by six wickets in the final of the triangularseries in Harare. Pakistan’s innings got off to the worst possible startwith Glenn Maxwell picking up two wickets in the very first over of theinnings. Debutant Sahibzada Farhan and Hussain Talat were not able totrouble the scorers and went back to the pavilion without even scoring asingle run.
Captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman got Pakistan back on track with abrisk 45-run partnership but just when the Men in Green were looking toestablish some sort of control, Sarfraz was run-out after scoring 28 runs.
Zaman kept on dominating the Aussie bowlers — despite the skipper’sdismissal — along with the experienced Shoaib Malik. The left-handedbatsman was in unstoppable hitting form as he smacked the bowlers to allparts of the ground. He scored 91 runs of 46 balls which included 12 foursand three sixes while he also notched up a brilliant 107-run match winningpartnership with Malik.
After Zaman’s departure Malik and Asif Ali ensured that Pakistan smoothlysailed over the line. Malik remained not out on 43 runs while Asif Alistayed unbeaten on 17 runs.
This was also the highest successful run chase ever by Pakistan in T20Icricket.
Earlier Australia had set Pakistan a target of 184 runs, after Finch hadwon the toss and decided to bat first.
For Pakistan Mohammad Amir picked up three wickets while Shadab Khanclaimed two wickets.
Zaman bagged the award for, both, player of the match and the series due tohis brilliant batting.