New Delhi, Nov. 19 -- Pakistan overcame a top-order collapse to edge out spirited Zimbabwe by five wickets in the opener of a T20 tri-series Tuesday.

Zimbabwe, which has qualified for next year's T20 World Cup, put up a good show with the ball before Pakistan reached 151-5 in the final over as Fakhar Zaman returned to the format with a top score of 44 off 32 balls.

Zimbabwe ruined a rollicking start and got restricted to 147-8 with spinners Mohammad Nawaz (2-22), Abrar Ahmed (1-28) and Saim Ayub (1-31) squeezing the visitors in the second half of the innings.

"It was a close game," Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said. "Our spinners have been doing well for the last 4-5 months and they're the ones that put us back in the game."

Zaman...