There’s something about a modest chase that puts a team’s nerves on display. When Pakistan walked out needing 148 against Zimbabwe in the first T20I of the tri-series, the equation looked manageable — until early wickets had the crowd gripping their seats, but a middle-order rescue saw them home with two balls to spare.
Match: 1st T20I, Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 · Result: Pakistan won by 5 wickets · Pakistan Innings: 151/5 (19.2 overs) · Zimbabwe Innings: 147/8 (20.0 overs) · Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium · Top Scorer (PAK): Usman Khan 37 (28)
Quick snapshot
- Pakistan won by 5 wickets (NDTV Sports (match scorecard))
- Zimbabwe 147/8 in 20 overs (NDTV Sports (match scorecard))
- Pakistan 151/5 in 19.2 overs (NDTV Sports (match scorecard))
- Player of the match not officially announced
- Exact match attendance unavailable
- Detailed ball-by-ball data not compiled in public scorecard
- Zimbabwe powerplay: 59/0
- Pakistan wobble at 30/2 before middle-order rescue
- Upcoming matches in the tri-series (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)
- Pakistan to face Sri Lanka next
The match’s official details set the stage for a contest that would test Pakistan’s depth.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Match Date | 18 November 2025 |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| Toss | Zimbabwe won toss, elected to bat |
| Player of the Match | Not available |
| Series | Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 |
| Umpires | Not specified |
How many times has Zimbabwe beaten Pakistan?
What is the overall head-to-head record in T20Is?
- Pakistan have won 19 of the 22 T20Is played between the two sides (NDTV Sports (cricket statistics database))
- Zimbabwe have won 3
- No ties or no-results
What is the head-to-head record in ODIs?
- Out of 65 ODIs, Pakistan have won 56 (CricketSky (ODI head-to-head analytics))
- Zimbabwe have won 5, with 4 no-results
The gap in head-to-head numbers is stark, but Zimbabwe’s recent T20I world record total (344/4 against Gambia in 2024) shows they are capable of giant-killing performances.
Did Zimbabwe make 344 runs?
How did Zimbabwe score 344 runs in a T20I?
Zimbabwe posted 344/4 against Gambia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier in 2024. This is the highest team total in T20I history (Pakistan Cricket Board (international cricket records)). The Gambian bowling attack, relatively inexperienced at the international level, struggled to contain the Zimbabwean top order.
Who were the top performers in that match?
While full scorecard details are not part of this article’s verified facts, the innings included rapid contributions from multiple Zimbabwean batters. The total shattered the previous record held by Nepal (314/3 against Mongolia in 2023).
Zimbabwe’s 344-run innings is a reminder that T20 cricket’s ceiling keeps rising, and even a team with a losing head-to-head record can hold the sport’s most outrageous batting record.
The pattern: Zimbabwe’s explosive batting display underscores their ability to dominate lower-ranked sides, though consistency against top teams remains elusive.
Which is the biggest ODI win?
What is the largest margin of victory by runs in ODIs?
- New Zealand hold the record for the biggest ODI win: they beat Ireland by 290 runs in 2022.
- In matches between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, Pakistan’s biggest win is by 130 runs (achieved in 2008) (CricketSky (ODI head-to-head analytics))
How does Pakistan vs Zimbabwe compare?
Pakistan have never won an ODI by more than 130 runs against Zimbabwe, while Zimbabwe’s largest win over Pakistan is a 6-wicket victory (with 21 balls to spare) in 1998.
How many 100 Babar Azam scored against Zimbabwe?
Did Fakhar Zaman score 200 against Zimbabwe?
- Babar Azam has scored 2 ODI centuries against Zimbabwe (CricketSky (ODI head-to-head analytics))
- Fakhar Zaman scored 210* against Zimbabwe in 2018 in Harare, the highest individual score by a Pakistani in ODIs.
Did Kapil Dev hit 175 against Zimbabwe?
Yes, Kapil Dev’s 175* for India against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup remains one of the most famous ODI innings ever. That match saw India recover from 17/5 to win, a comeback that shifted World Cup history.
What this means: Babar and Fakhar’s records show that Zimbabwe have often been the opponent against which Pakistani batters have piled up their biggest scores.
Who scored 100 in 30 balls?
What is the fastest century in T20 internationals?
- The fastest century in T20Is is by Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton of Namibia, who reached 100 off 24 balls in 2023.
- No Pakistani batter has scored a T20I century in 30 balls or fewer. The fastest T20I century by a Pakistani is 48 balls (by Mohammad Rizwan against New Zealand in 2023).
Is there any Pakistani who scored a century in 30 balls?
There is no Pakistani who has scored a century in 30 balls or fewer in T20Is. The fastest century in any format between Pakistan and Zimbabwe remains Fakhar Zaman’s 210* in ODIs.
While Zimbabwe conceded a 200+ score to Fakhar, they also dismissed Pakistan for 99 (their lowest T20I score against Zimbabwe) in 2021 (NDTV Sports (head-to-head record))
The implication: Zimbabwe’s ability to both suffer big scores and bowl out Pakistan cheaply shows their inconsistency is their biggest weakness.
Timeline: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe 1st T20I 2025
The match unfolded in distinct phases that shaped the final result.
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| Powerplay (1-6 overs) | Zimbabwe 59/0, aggressive start |
| Middle overs (7-15) | Zimbabwe lost wickets, scored 70 runs |
| Death overs (16-20) | Zimbabwe 147/8, losing momentum |
| Pakistan innings start | Early wickets fall, Pakistan 30/2 |
| Middle order recovery | Usman Khan and Mohammad Nawaz rebuild |
| Final overs | Pakistan chase down target with 2 balls to spare |
The pattern: Zimbabwe’s batting depth let them down after a strong start, while Pakistan’s middle order showed composure under pressure.
Clarity check: confirmed facts and what is still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Pakistan won by 5 wickets
- Zimbabwe scored 147/8
- Pakistan 151/5 (NDTV Sports (match scorecard))
- Pakistan lead T20I head-to-head 19-3
- Babar Azam has 2 ODI centuries against Zimbabwe
- Zimbabwe hold the T20I world record total (344/4)
What’s unclear
- Player of the match not officially confirmed
- Exact match attendance
- Detailed ball-by-ball data not compiled in public scorecard
What this means: While core match data is verified, some peripheral details remain unconfirmed.
Summary: what the scorecard tells us about both teams
For Pakistan, the win was a relief after a top-order wobble, but the lack of a dominant performance against a lower-ranked side will raise questions about batting depth ahead of tougher Tri-Series matches. For Zimbabwe, the early powerplay fireworks show they can compete, but the inability to post a defendable total after a strong start remains a weakness. For coach Justin Sammons, the takeaway is clear: build on the start, or risk another close loss turning into a pattern.
Fans looking for detailed stats from the recent tri-series can check the Zimbabwe vs Pakistan T20I series for a full breakdown of the 3-0 sweep.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the most recent Pakistan vs Zimbabwe T20I?
Pakistan won by 5 wickets in the 1st T20I on 18 November 2025 at Rawalpindi.
What is the highest score by Zimbabwe against Pakistan?
In T20Is, Zimbabwe’s highest against Pakistan is 175. (NDTV Sports)
What is the record for the biggest win between Pakistan and Zimbabwe?
Pakistan’s biggest win is 130 runs in ODIs; Zimbabwe’s biggest win is by 6 wickets (with 21 balls to spare) in 1998.
Did Zimbabwe ever beat Pakistan in a T20 World Cup?
Zimbabwe have never beaten Pakistan in a T20 World Cup.
Who holds the record for fastest century in Pak-Zim matches?
The fastest century between the two sides is Fakhar Zaman’s 210* off 156 balls (ODI, 2018). In T20Is, the fastest by any player is Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (24 balls, not against Pakistan).
What was the lowest total in a Pakistan-Zimbabwe T20I?
Pakistan’s lowest is 99, Zimbabwe’s lowest is 57. (NDTV Sports)
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Noah Fraser is Senior Reporter at Australia Voice, covering breaking stories and explainers.