Sikandar Raza stars as Zimbabwe stun Pakistan

Defending 130, Raza picked up 3 for 25 and ran out Shaheen Shah Afridi off the final delivery to steer Zimbabwe to a famous one-run win

Perth: Zimbabwe 130-8, Pakistan 129-8 - Zimbabwe won by one run

Scorecard

Sikandar Raza delivered yet another standout performance to help Zimbabwe to a thrilling victory over Pakistan in Perth.

He picked up two wickets in two balls to derail what should have been a routine chase of 131 for Pakistan before Brad Evans held his nerve at the death to seal a one-run win for Zimbabwe.

After electing to bat, Zimbabwe got off to a positive start, racing to 42 in five overs before Haris Rauf removed Craig Ervine. Wessly Madhevere, who had been sweetly timing some off-drives, also departed in the powerplay as Pakistan wrestled back momentum.

Shadab Khan (3 for 23) bowled well in the middle overs, claiming the wicket of Milton Shumba with a good catch off his own bowling.

Sean Williams (31 off 28) led a small recovery but no Zimbabwean partnerships scored as freely as their openers. The 36-year old allrounder played a smart innings until he was clean bowled by Shadab.

^{Sikandar Raza was the standout performer for Zimbabwe once again [Paul Kane/Getty Images]}

His departure triggered a passage of four wicket for no runs, including a magnificent slip catch from Babar Azam to remove Regis Chakabva off Shadab. The following over, Mohammad Wasim accounted for Raza and Luke Jongwe. 

Evans (19 off 15) provided some late impetus but Wasim's 4 for 24 and the tidy death bowling of Rauf ensured Zimbabwe could only reach 130.

Defending a below par score, Zimbabwe started well, removing Babar and Mohammad Rizwan in the powerplay. Iftikhar Ahmed struggled to get it away and was soon caught down the legside off Luke Jongwe, leaving Pakistan at 36 for 3.

Shan Masood, with the help of Shadab, recovered well, taking Pakistan to 88 without losing more wickets. It seemed to be turning into an easy run chase until Raza (3 for 24) gave Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope, taking two wickets in two balls in the 14th over. 

A sensational piece of glovework from Chakabva in the 16th sent Masood (44 off 38) back to the dugout and sensing an upset, Zimbabwe bowled some good lengths, starving Pakistan of runs.

By the final over, Pakistan needed 11 from six balls with Mohammad Nawaz (22 off 18) on strike. Evans conceded seven from his first two deliveries but in a remarkable display under pressure, including the wicket of Nawaz with the penultimate ball, he brought the equation back to three needed off the last delivery. Shaheen Shah Afridi could only dash the single before being runout by Raza.