Misbah-ul-Haq credited Wahab Riaz for almost "single-handedly" guiding Pakistan to their first points of the Cricket World Cup in Sunday's win over Zimbabwe, while also reserving praise for Mohammad Irfan.
After defeats to India and West Indies, the Pool B clash took on extra significance for Pakistan, but they made an inauspicious start in labouring to 235-7 at the Gabba - captain Misbah top-scoring with 73.
Riaz added a valuable 54 with the bat and then returned 4-45 as Zimbabwe came up short in reply, posting 215 all out.
"I think Wahab was really bowling well, quick," Misbah said.
"Everybody knows that he's capable of doing some batting, also, and I think today he showed that. Almost he single-handedly just saved the whole team.
"His innings was very important, and then the kind of bowling he did, especially he bowled really quick, and some intelligent bowling, good bouncers, and also he just mixed the length very well.
"At the moment you could say he's really doing well for our team."
The giant Irfan also shone with the ball for Pakistan, claiming 4-30, his best figures in one-day internationals.
Misbah added: "Irfan obviously bowled really well today, and it all depends the kind of batsmen he's bowling against.
"I think the Zimbabweans were struggling against his short bowling and length bowling, so that was the plan and that's what he did."
Brendan Taylor was the only Zimbabwean to post a score of note, compiling 50 from 72 balls.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was left to rue what he felt was a missed opportunity as Zimbabwe slipped to a third defeat from four Pool B matches.
"Absolutely [it is a missed opportunity]," he said. "We certainly did target this match and we felt that half the job was done particularly well, restricting them to 235.
"But they came out the first 15 overs and made it pretty difficult for us and bowled some heavy balls, and it was difficult to score, but it needed a partnership, and unfortunately 50 or 30 partnerships, they're not going to get you over the line.
"It was extremely difficult to comprehend this loss."