Pakistan Crush Zimbabwe by 69 Runs to Book Their Spot in the Final

Pakistan surged into the 2025/26 Tri-Series final with a commanding 69-run win over Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi, a match shaped by clean hitting up top and a stunning hat-trick from young spinner Usman Tariq that blew the chase apart.

Farhan and Babar Set the Tone Early

Pakistan walked out with a plan and executed it with purpose. Sahibzada Farhan continued the purple patch that has lit up this series. He struck through the line, picked the gaps early, and kept Zimbabwe under pressure from the opening over. His 63 off 41 balls flowed with crisp strokes and smart placement, giving Pakistan the pace they needed.

Babar Azam read the pitch perfectly and slipped into an anchor’s role without losing fluency. He worked the field, seized every boundary option, and guided Pakistan through the middle overs with a polished 74 off 52. Their 103-run stand for the second wicket carried authority and shut out Zimbabwe’s early hopes.

Fakhar Turns the Finish Into a Firestorm

Zimbabwe clawed the scoring rate back briefly through Sikandar Raza’s two wickets, but Fakhar Zaman sent the game into a different gear. He walked in with eight balls left and turned them into a demolition set. Three clean sixes. Ten balls faced. Twenty-seven runs carved out with the swagger fans expect from him. Pakistan vaulted to 195 for five, a total that sat far above par on a surface that offered grip later in the evening.

Zimbabwe Lose the Chase Before It Begins

Zimbabwe needed a sharp start but instead ran into tight new-ball overs that removed hope before momentum could form. Three wickets fell for 25 inside the powerplay as Pakistan’s seamers hit the pitch hard, forced mistakes, and left Zimbabwe’s dugout silent.

Only Ryan Burl offered resistance. He dug in, counterpunched when the chance came, and finished unbeaten on 67 off 49. His effort kept the scoreboard respectable but did little to alter the direction of a match that had slipped away long before his innings took shape.

Usman Tariq Steals the Night With a Hat-Trick

The turning point arrived with Usman Tariq’s introduction. The young left-arm spinner bowled with nerve, drift, and clarity. He read Zimbabwe’s tentative footwork, pinned them on the crease, and ripped out three wickets in three balls to complete a hat-trick that sent Rawalpindi into a roar. Zimbabwe’s middle order collapsed around him, and the chase disintegrated with startling speed.

His spell shut the door on any late fightback and delivered the defining moment of the match, and possibly Pakistan’s tournament so far.

Pakistan Cruise Into the Final

Zimbabwe folded for 126. Pakistan walked off with a win built on clean batting, sharp new-ball work, and a young spinner’s breakout night. Their spot in the final is sealed. Their confidence grows. And their rhythm arrives at the perfect moment of the series.