Match overview
Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets in Rawalpindi on 18 November 2025, chasing down a target of 148 to reach 151/5. The match looked straightforward on paper given the head-to-head record between these sides, but Pakistan's chase was more complicated than the margin suggests. They slipped to 31/3 in the powerplay before the middle overs steadied proceedings: 75 runs for 1 wicket between overs 7 and 16 effectively settled the contest. Mohammad Nawaz took the Player of the Match award for his contribution in guiding Pakistan home.
Zimbabwe's innings followed an interesting shape. They scored 59 without loss in the powerplay, well above the venue average of 41, giving themselves a genuine platform. The middle overs cost them 4 wickets for 53 runs, and the death overs brought another 4 wickets as they added just 35. A total of 147/8 was respectable but not beyond a Pakistan side with the depth they have in the middle order.
Venue and conditions
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has a strong record across 79 T20 matches and is generally considered one of Pakistan's more batter-friendly venues. The average first-innings score stands at 214 and the average second-innings score at 208, both of which indicate a surface that does not trouble batters unduly across phases. A target of 148 was therefore below par by historical standards, which is why Pakistan remained firm favourites despite their powerplay troubles.
The toss at Rawalpindi is relevant: the fielding side wins 60% of matches, and Pakistan's decision to bowl first after winning the toss followed the conventional wisdom for this ground. The average powerplay runs of 41 were exceeded comfortably by Zimbabwe's 59, though Pakistan's chase powerplay of 31 runs for 3 wickets was significantly below that benchmark. The death-overs average of 34 runs per match was almost exactly matched in both innings, with Zimbabwe scoring 35 and Pakistan 45 in those final four overs.
Dew can be a factor in evening matches at this venue, which typically aids the chasing side by softening the pitch and making it harder for spinners to grip the ball. That context supports fielding first, and Pakistan's bowlers would have had the better of conditions in the first innings as a result.
How to watch
Pakistan home internationals are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming available through Sky Go and NOW TV for subscribers. For fans without a Sky subscription, the NOW TV day pass offers a flexible way to access individual matches. Check the Sky Sports website for confirmed broadcast times and any schedule changes ahead of further fixtures in this series.
Recent form
Both sides came into this fixture with contrasting recent form in terms of opposition quality. Zimbabwe had won five consecutive matches heading into Rawalpindi, though those victories came against Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and Uganda. Pakistan's recent run was more rigorous: three wins against Sri Lanka, a win against South Africa, and a loss to South Africa in their last five fixtures. That loss to South Africa was Pakistan's only recent slip, and their performance across that run against stronger opposition made them clear favourites for this match.
Zimbabwe's winning run had the hallmarks of a side building momentum in lower-pressure environments, and their strong powerplay in the first innings here suggested that confidence had translated. The inability to bat through the middle overs and push beyond 150, however, pointed to the gap in class that the head-to-head record of 53 wins to 7 over 63 meetings reflects. Pakistan's next fixture will be of interest to see whether the middle-order vulnerability exposed in the powerplay represents a genuine concern or simply a difficult passage of play on the night.