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Pakistan have won their T20 series against Zimbabwe after an exciting match n Lahore

Image: Pakistan pose with the trophy after winning their T20 series against Zimbabwe

The return of international cricket to Pakistan continued on Sunday as the hosts secured a thrilling two-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second Twenty20 international in Lahore.

Pakistan therefore claimed a 2-0 victory in the series, which is the first international cricket to take place in the country for six years due to security concerns.

Having chosen to bat first, Zimbabwe posted a decent score of 175-3, with Sean Williams making an unbeaten 58 off 32 balls and Vusi Sibanda contributing 49.

Pakistan opener Mukhtar Ahmed then scored a blistering 62 off 40 balls, before Zimbabwe produced some brilliant fielding to get right back into the contest.

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The hosts needed 12 runs off the last over with only two wickets in hand but No 10 batsman Bilawal Bhatti (13 not out) kept his nerve in front of 27,000 fans to take Pakistan to a winning 176-8 with two balls to spare.

Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura won the toss for the second time in succession, and Sibanda featured in solid partnerships of 68 runs each with Hamilton Masakadza (39) and Williams.

Off-spinner Shoaib Malik (1-23) bowled well for Pakistan but Masakadza hit Bhatti for three successive boundaries in one over and Williams reached his maiden half century in Twenty20 with a six over midwicket off Shahid Afridi.

Chigumbura (21 off nine balls) then produced some fireworks towards the end of the innings, hitting three successive sixes off fast bowler Mohammad Sami (1-38).

When Pakistan replied, they were cruising at 95-2 at the halfway stage, before Prosper Utseya ran out Shoaib Malik (7) with a direct hit.

Zimbabwe then made it 117-4 in the 14th over when Ahmed, who had been dropped on 15 and 55 already, was smartly caught by Sibanda on the long-on boundary.

The in-form Ahmed, who had made 83 in the first match, hit six fours and a six, but his dismissal triggered something of a collapse.

Captain Afridi (7) hit one six and was then caught at mid-off, and Chris Mpofu had Umar Akmal (30) leg before wicket in the 17th over, with Pakistan still needing 24 runs.

Mpofu gave away just five runs in the penultimate over and Zimbabwe looked on course for victory, before Bhatti produced some match-winning hitting.

He brought the fans to their feet with a six over long-on off the first ball of the final over, bowled by Brian Vitori, took two off the third, and then won the contest by smashing the fourth ball to the boundary through the covers.

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