NEW DELHI: Pakistani bowler Sufiyan Muqeem achieved a remarkable feat in the second T20I against Zimbabwe on Tuesday in Bulawayo.
His exceptional bowling performance earned him a place in an exclusive club of bowlers from Full Member nations who have taken a five-wicket haul in T20Is while conceding fewer than five runs.
Muqeem's success can be attributed to his effective use of pace variation, top spin, and googly, which dismantled Zimbabwe's batting line-up.
In a remarkable 2.4-over spell, he claimed five wickets for just three runs, recording the best-ever bowling figures for Pakistan in T20I cricket. His figures of 5/3 surpassed former pacer Umar Gul's record of 5/6 against New Zealand in 2009.
Muqeem joined an elite group of bowlers who have achieved this rare feat, including Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath (5/3 against New Zealand in 2014), Afghanistan's Rashid Khan (5/3 against Ireland in 2017), and India's Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5/4 against Afghanistan in 2022).
Muqeem's heroics ensured Zimbabwe's lowest total in T20I history, a mere 57 runs. After winning the toss and opting to bat, Zimbabwe regretted their decision as Muqeem dominated in his brief spell.
Although Zimbabwe's openers managed a decent start, Abbas Afridi drew first blood by dismissing Tadiwanashe Marumani. At 37/1, Zimbabwe collapsed dramatically, losing their remaining nine wickets for just 20 runs.
In response, Saim Ayub and Omair Yousuf made quick work of the target, wrapping up the game inside the powerplay and securing a 10-wicket victory for Pakistan, along with an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Muqeem's exceptional performance not only earned him a place in the record books but also played a crucial role in Pakistan's dominant series win over Zimbabwe.
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