Mukhtar Ahmed hit a sensational 83 as international cricket returned to Pakistan with a five-wicket win for the hosts over Zimbabwe in Lahore.
The Twenty20 international was the first game hosted by Pakistan since a terror attack in the same city in 2009, when gunmen attacked buses carrying the Sri Lanka team.
Both teams arrived at the Gaddafi Stadium under heavy guard and security was tight, with supporters facing long queues to get in in temperatures that touched 43 degrees centigrade.
Once play started they were treated to some fine batting, but none better than from 22-year-old Mukhtar, whose second international innings proved to be a match-winning one.
Zimbabwe did their bit in making the game competitive as they made 172-6 in their 20 overs, Elton Chigumbura top scoring with 54 off 35 balls, an innings that included eight fours and a six.
Hamilton Masakadza added 43 at the top of the order while Mohammad Sami marked his return to the Pakistan side, after three years out, with three wickets and Wahab Riaz claimed 2-38.
Pakistan appeared set for an easy victory at one point with Ahmed and fellow opener Ahmed Shehzad scoring at will, bringing the crowd to life with a series of stunning shots.
Shehzad made 55 off 39 balls as part of a fantastic 142-run opening stand which was eventually ended when Sean Williams dismissed him midway through the 15th over.
Two runs later Mukhtar’s innings came to an end, and he received a massive Lahore ovation after bludgeoning 12 fours and three sixes in a 45-ball knock – Graeme Cremer finally ended his stay.
Suddenly Pakistan were in panic mode and Cremer struck again to dismiss Mohammad Hafeez for 12 with the home side still 17 runs short of victory.
Tinashe Panyangara removed Shoaib Malik for seven and Umar Akmal made only four before falling to Brian Vitori, but Sarfraz Ahmed (3) and Shahid Afridi (4) saw them over the line with only three balls remaining.
Zimbabwe
H Masakadza b Mohammad Sami 43
V Sibanda c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Sami 13
CK Coventry c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Wahab Riaz 14
E Chigumbura b Wahab Riaz 54
SC Williams c Wahab Riaz b Shoaib Malik 16
Sikandar Raza c Ahmed Shehzad b Mohammad Sami 17
R Mutumbami not out 4
AG Cremer not out 2
Extras (lb 3, w 5, nb 1) 9
Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 172
Did not batT Panyangara, CB Mpofu, BV Vitori
Fall of wickets 1-58 (Sibanda, 6.5 ov), 2-58 (Masakadza, 6.6 ov), 3-73 (Coventry, 8.2 ov), 4-100 (Williams, 12.4 ov), 5-142 (Sikandar Raza, 16.6 ov), 6-168 (Chigumbura, 19.2 ov)
Bowling
Anwar Ali 3-0-18-0, Mohammad Sami 4-0-36-3, Bilawal Bhatti 3-0-37-0, Wahab Riaz 4-0-38-2, Shahid Afridi 3-0-28-0, Shoaib Malik 3-0-12-1
Pakistan
Mukhtar Ahmed c Mutumbami b Cremer 83
Ahmed Shehzad c Mutumbami b Williams 55
Mohammad Hafeez c †Coventry b Cremer 12
Shoaib Malik b Panyangara 7
Umar Akmal c Sibanda b Vitori 4
Sarfraz Ahmed†not out 3
Shahid Afridi* not out 4
Extras (lb 5) 5
Total (5 wickets; 19.3 overs) 173
Did not batAnwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz
Fall of wickets 1-142 (Ahmed Shehzad, 13.3 ov), 2-144 (Mukhtar Ahmed, 14.4 ov), 3-157 (Mohammad Hafeez, 16.5 ov), 4-162 (Umar Akmal, 17.5 ov), 5-169 (Shoaib Malik, 19.2 ov)
Bowling
T Panyangara 2.3-0-28-1, BV Vitori 4-0-24-1, CB Mpofu 3-0-32-0, SC Williams 4-0-33-1, AG Cremer 4-0-28-2, Sikandar Raza 2-0-23-0
MATCH DETAILS
Toss – Zimbabwe, who chose to bat
Series – Pakistan led the 2-match series 1-0
T20I debut – R Mutumbami (Zimbabwe)
Player of the match – Mukhtar Ahmed (Pakistan)
Umpires – Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza
TV umpire – Ahmed Shahab
Match referee – Azhar Khan
Reserve umpire – Khalid Mahmood
