The Fatima Sana-led side were keen to sign off the dominant white-ball showing against Zimbabwe, led by skipper Nomvelo Sibanda in the 3rd T20I at the National Stadium, Karachi on 15th May 2026. The home side sealed the T20I series by winning the 2nd T20I by 67 runs.
Yet again, there were changes for both sides. Aliya Riaz replaced Gull Feroza, and Eyman Fatima was replaced by Rameen Shamim in the starting 11 for the home side. Zimbabwe had just one change as Olinda Chare replaced Precious Marange in the starting 11 for the 3rd T20I.
Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana won the toss and opted to bat first. Both the Pakistani openers came out with positive intent, stitching a 58-run opening stand, inside the powerplay. Lindokuhle Mabhero struck immediately after the power play, removing Muneeba Ali (22 off 17 balls) to provide the first breakthrough for Zimbabwe.
Saira Jabeen joined Ayesha Zafar at the crease, and the pair ensured the momentum continued deeper into the innings, with a crucial 34-run stand for the 2nd wicket, which also took them closer to the 100-run mark. It was Lindokuhle Mabhero yet again to break the partnership by sending Ayesha Zafar (45 off 28 balls) back to the pavilion in the 10th over of the innings, providing the 2nd breakthrough for her side.
The Pakistani batters flicked a switch after the departure of Natalia Pervaiz in the 11th over of the innings. The home side went into top gear, scoring 122 runs in the last nine overs, firing at a rate of over 13 runs an over. The turbo-charge in the innings came through massive partnerships of 61 runs for the 4th wicket between Saira Jabeen and Iram Javed (29 off 20 balls), followed by another decisive 71-run stand alongside skipper Fatima Sana (62* off 19 balls), as Pakistan ended with a massive total of 223/4 in their quota of 20 overs.
The Pakistani skipper, Fatima Sana, led from the front, unleashing havoc on the Zimbabwean bowlers. She broke the record for the fastest half-century in the history of women’s cricket. She got to the landmark in just 15 deliveries. Previously, the joint record holders Sophie Devine (New Zealand), Phoebe Litchfield (Australia), and the wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh (India) achieved it in 18 deliveries, with the former White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine becoming the first one to set the standards in 2015, against India in Bengaluru.
Lindokuhle Mabhero (4-0-36-2), Michelle Mavunga (2-0-25-1), and Beloved Biza (4-0-35-1) were impressive with the ball for Zimbabwe.
Chasing a mountainous total of 224, Zimbabwe suffered another familiar collapse, resulting in them getting bundled out for just 90 runs, falling 133 runs short of the target with 17 balls to spare. The 27-run stand for the 2nd wicket between Kelis Ndhlovu and Runyararo Pasipanodya was the highest partnership of the run chase for Zimbabwe.
Kelis Ndhlovu (32 off 13 balls), Michelle Mavunga (13 off 8 balls) and Olinda Chare (8* off 5 balls) were the only Zimbabwean batters to show some character and take the attack to the Pakistani bowlers. Adel Zimunu (18 off 25 balls) played her part with the bat for her side. Sadia Iqbal (3-0-20-3), Nashra Sandhu (4-0-21-2), Rameen Shamim (4-1-11-1), and Tuba Hassan (3-0-8-1) were sensational with the ball for Pakistan.
Skipper Fatima Sana was awarded the Player of the Match for her breathtaking innings of 62 (19 balls) with the bat, which included 10 boundaries and a couple of maximums, at an astonishing strike rate of 326.32. She also returned with match figures (2.1-0-28-1) with the ball for her side. Ayesha Zafar was awarded the Player of the Series for scoring 151 runs at a strike rate of 186.41 and an average of 75.50, including a century in three innings and three matches with the bat for her side in the series.
