AN unbeaten half-century from Ryan Burl turned to be the only positive as Zimbabwe’s batting fragilities resurfaced during their 69-run loss to Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Instead, it was another half-century from Babar Azam and an Usman Tariq hat-trick that turned to be the match-defining historics that dented Zimbabwe’s net run-rate and gave Sri Lanka a lifeline ahead of this weekend’s tri-series final on Saturday.

It is a final Pakistan are all but guaranteed to play after having won all of their first three games.

Pakistan’s 195 quickly became academic for a Zimbabwe unit that didn’t have the fire-power to challenge it, and found themselves shot out for 126 runs.

After winning the toss and batting first, Saim Ayub looked to take full advantage of the power play.

In a breezy cameo, he struck a pair of early sixes before finding a fielder while on 13 runs off eight balls.

Opener Sahibzada Farhan and Babar shifted through the gears through their partnership as they controlled the pacing of their innings, setting up Fakhar Zaman and the middle order for a big finish.

In contrast Zimbabwe’s top heavy T20I batting line-up meant they could not afford to leave too much work for anyone outside the top five, but in pursuit of 196, risk-taking was inevitable.

The warning signs were there when Tadiwanashe Marumani tamely spooned Naseem Shah to cover point after which he departed for a paltry four runs off five balls.

Brian Bennett (9) and Brendan Taylor (8) followed soon after, and the only resistance Zimbabwe offered came in the form of a 34-run partnership between Ryan Burl and Sikandar Raza (23).

With Tariq’s hat-trick running through the visitors at speed, Burl suddenly found himself fighting a lone hand at one end.

In the end, Zimbabwe fell some 69 runs off their target as Burl was stranded for his unbeaten 67 runs off 49 deliveries.

In fact, the 31-year-old all-rounder was one of two batters to reach double-digits alongside Raza’s the 23 runs of 18 balls.

The two shared fourth-wicket stand of 34 runs off 28 deliveries but was the a tenth-wicket partnership between Burl and Richard Ngarava that saw Zimbabwe cross 100 runs and try inject some life into the team’s innings.

Their 44 runs off 31 balls is now the highest Zimbabwe 10th wicket stand, surpassing Chris Mpofu and Donald Tiripano’s 29 runs against the Netherlands back in 2019.

Zimbawe now play Sri Lanka with the winner of that match meeting the hosts in Saturday’s final. — Cricinfo/Zimpapers Sports Hub