Pakistan suffer a SHOCK defeat by Zimbabwe to put them on the brink of an early T20 World Cup exit

Unpredictability has shredded the veins of Pakistan cricket since the dawn of time.

The 1992 World Cup saw Imran Khan’s ‘cornered tigers’ ready to depart with just one win from their opening five matches — before somehow going on to clinch the trophy against England in the final.

They are predictably unpredictable; an embraced strength that has often done this nation far more good than bad. If they don’t know what they are going to do next, how on earth will the opposition?

The underdogs set their rivals a target of 131 runs after a strong knock from Sean Williams

Mohammad Nawaz was roped in after a batting collapse and looked close to rescuing a victory

Though 30 years on, a Babar Azam-led side in their Twenty20 World Cup campaign require another such miracle after today being outhustled, outplayed and out-thought by a spirited Zimbabwe team.

When the Falcons appeared on track for victory, off-spinner Sikandar Raza pulled out his box of tricks to take three crucial wickets in the middle overs; when Mohammad Nawaz threatened to take his team over the line, pace bowler Brad Evans held his nerve in the last over to defend three runs off just two final balls.

This was a fully-deserved victory from start to finish, not a lucky scalp of any kind. If there’s anything this tournament has taught it is that if you underestimate associate nations, you do so at your peril.

So-called ‘minnows’ are no longer so squeamish about intimidating bowling or bludgeoning batting power from the bigger, established full-member nations; they demand respect. Total respect.

However, the Zimbabweans held their nerve and won in dramatic fashion due to a late run out

Pakistan must now win all their remaining fixtures, and hope South Africa lose to India to stand any chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Though, firstly, spare a thought for Nawaz. His final over implosion against rivals India on Sunday, in which he sent down a slew of no balls and wides, cost his nation the game from a winning position.

Abuse and finger pointing followed. Here, at Perth’s Opus Stadium, he was primed for redemption, his deep square-leg six off Richard Ngarava and three-run sprint helping to reduce the deficit to three.

An Evans dot ball made it three needed off two, before Nawaz dreamt glory and reclamation wrapped in one, wilfully trying to hoick the ball over mid-off — only for it to hit the bat’s toe end and balloon up to Craig Irvine.

Bradley Evans attempts to take a catch off his own bowling during the second innings

This will take him some time to recover from — and that’s putting it mildly. The cruel machinations of cricket.

The match’s openings reflected the rise of nations like Zimbabwe, who turn up to win regardless of the storied background of an opposition.

Wesley Madhevere, turned 22 last month, typified this as he came out on the front foot, alongside veteran Irvine, 37, to flay drives across three directions of the ground against a swinging ball to reach 38 off four overs.

A rather strong start; indeed, Pakistan were extrapolating seam off the pitch but bowling far too full to the delight of the opposition batters.

Madhevere’s boundary through cover point particularly caught the eye before a Haris Rauf bouncer struck Irvine’s top edge to Mohammad Wasim, and then Wasim castled Madhevere lbw with a sharp inswinger.

A four-wicket collapse ensued when Shadab Khan entered the fray. His fifth-ball googly bypassed an awful switch-hit attempt from Sean Williams to leave him clean bowled.

Spin bowler Sikandar Raza celebrates after taking the wicket of dangerman Shan Masood

His sixth ball enticed Regis Chakabva’s edge forward; Azam pulled off a superman-like dive at slip to snaffle it, and a contender for catch of the tournament.

An inspired Wasim followed up with two further wickets of his own. Four wickets in six balls — helping to limit the Zimbabwe innings to 130. Straightforward to chase?

No, the run chase started awfully. Blessing Muzarabani and Evans’ needling line, razor accurate on the stumps, saw captain Azam caught in two minds as an Evans delivery held up in the pitch; the subsequent attempt to flick leg side edging to Ryan Burl at backward point.

Muzarabani then bowled Mohammad Rizwan, the batter chopping the ball onto his own stumps.

It was calamity cricket laced with excellent bowling. Were thoughts of that Sunday likely creeping into the Pakistan team’s minds? Probably.

Zimbabwe’s victory keeps them alive in the World Cup and puts huge doubt over Pakistan

The reliable Shan Masood hit a flurry of boundaries and provided the impetus from one end to temporarily quell panic but after a five-over respite, the wickets again began to tumble once Raza arrived.

The tricky spinner deceived Shadab with a wide flighted delivery caught at long on, trapped Haider Ali lbw, and crucially had Masood stumped down leg with a quicker delivery while on 44. This was all in the space of 10 balls.

Momentum twisted and turned, a Pakistan victory looking the more likely when Nawaz stepped up to apply the long handle and leave the equation at three needed from two.

Then he was caught going for glory and it had been done. Zimbabwe had done it.

What a sport, eh?