Zimbabwe bowler Sikandar Raza has thanked Australia legend Ricky Ponting for inspiring his performance in a shock T20 World Cup win over Pakistan.
Raza took 3-25 in a stunning performance in Perth as Zimbabwe edged out Pakistan by one run to seal their first ever win outside of the first round.
The defeat leaves Pakistan hanging on in their attempts to qualify from Group Two after losing their first match of the competition against India. But the story belongs to Zimbabwe - whose players celebrated on the pitch long after the match had ended in Perth - and spin bowler Raza.
He claims he was inspired by a video of Ponting, who was describing the bowler's run of form ahead of the victory over Pakistan, the country of Raza's birth.
"His level of maturity has gone through the roof. He is stepping up in pressure moments. He almost singlehandedly got Zimbabwe through to the World Cup," Ponting said.
"He is 36 but looks as though he is 26 again. It has been really special to watch where he has come from in the last few years to perform how he has."
Raza, who was awarded the player of the match award, said: "I was excited today, and I watched this clip by Ricky Ponting earlier in the morning, and that motivated me to come up with this performance. I would like to thank Ricky Ponting for that.
Zimbabwe had earlier reached 129-8 and Pakistan looked to be on course to reach that total with Shan Masood in particular impressing.
But Raza alongside his bowling colleagues secured the famous win for Zimbabwe, who are now third in Group 2 after two matches.
