Fakhar leads Pakistan to victory in T20 tri-series final

Fakhar Zaman struck a career-best score of 91 off just 46 balls as Pakistan chased down a record total to beat Australia by six wickets in the T20I tri-series final in Harare on Sunday.

Set a target of 184, Pakistan got off to a terrible start with the bat as they lost debutant Sahibzada Farhan and Hussain Talat for ducks in the first over of the innings bowled by off-spinner Glenn Maxwell.

Fakhar though counter-attacked brilliantly and together with his captain Sarfraz Ahmed (28) put on 45 for the third wicket in less than six overs.

The stand that virtually clinched the game for the Asian side though was between Fakhar and veteran Shoaib Malik, the pair adding 107 for the fourth wicket until Fakhar went with 30 runs still needed for victory.

Malik (43 not out) and Asif Ali (17 not out) saw Pakistan over the line with four balls still to spare as they achieved their highest run-chase in T20Is.

Earlier, Australia opening batsman D’Arcy Short struck 76 in 53 balls as the Aussies powered their way to a total of 183/8 in 20 overs.

Short and his captain Aaron Finch (47 off 27 balls) put on 95 inside the first ten overs but the innings fell away after Finch was out to leg-spinner Shadab Khan.

Shadab finished with 2-38 in four overs while left-arm paceman Mohammad Amir took 3-38.

The victory in the tri-series, which also included hosts Zimbabwe, confirmed Pakistan as the number-one ranked side in the shortest format.