145/6 (20.0)
CR : 7.25
144/6 (20.0)
CR : 7.20
Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Brian Bennett
0/1249(49)
8:34 PM IST & 5:04 PM Local Time| Goodness gracious me! The atmosphere at Harare Sports Club is electric. What a thrilling start to the series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. In a nail-biting finish, Zimbabwe clinched the 1st T20I by 4 wickets on the final ball. This is their 2nd win against Afghanistan in T20Is.
Earlier in the day, Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bat first. The visitors faced an early setback as their power-hitter Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck in the first over. They found themselves in trouble at 33/4 within the powerplay.
Karim Janat and Azmatullah Omarzai tried to steady the innings, but Omarzai was dismissed in the 11th over. Mohammad Nabi, in his 300th international match for Afghanistan, then forged a vital 79-run partnership with Karim Janat for the sixth wicket, helping to rescue the team.
Karim Janat remained unbeaten on 54, while Nabi fell just six runs short of his half-century. Afghanistan staged a strong comeback in the latter half of the innings, finishing with a competitive total of 144/6 from their 20 overs.
Richard Ngarava (3/28) was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe. Consequently, the hosts were set a target of 145 runs to chase in their 20 overs.
In reply, it was watchful start from Zimbabwe in the run chase. Marumani played some funky shots early on in the powerplay but he perished for 9.
The duo of Dion Myers and Brian Bennett built up a crucial partnership. Both the batters played every ball to its merit putting their side in the drivers seat.
The 75-run partnership between Myers and Bennett was disrupted by Mohammad Nabi. With the stage set for Sikandar Raza to deliver a captain's knock and lead his team to victory in his 100th T20I for Zimbabwe, Raza unfortunately fell for a low score, failing to capitalize on the opportunity.
The match drifted away from the visitors in the 15th over of the second innings. It was a horrendous over from Naveen ul Haq who bowled 13 deliveries and conceded 19 runs. However, the other bowlers pulled things back and fought back by picking up a few wickets in the fag end of the innings.
The match went down to the wire with 11 runs were required off the final over of the match. It was Omarzai who was given the duties with the ball in hand. Zimbabwe held their nerve and got over the line in the final over of the match by 4 wickets!
Naveen ul Haq (3/33) was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan. This is Zimbabwe's first win at the Harare Sports Club against Afghanistan in T20Is. Crazy, crazy scenes at Harare as the crowd went berserk. Stay tuned for the Post-Match Presentation!
Earlier in the day, Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bat first. The visitors faced an early setback as their power-hitter Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck in the first over. They found themselves in trouble at 33/4 within the powerplay.
Karim Janat and Azmatullah Omarzai tried to steady the innings, but Omarzai was dismissed in the 11th over. Mohammad Nabi, in his 300th international match for Afghanistan, then forged a vital 79-run partnership with Karim Janat for the sixth wicket, helping to rescue the team.
Karim Janat remained unbeaten on 54, while Nabi fell just six runs short of his half-century. Afghanistan staged a strong comeback in the latter half of the innings, finishing with a competitive total of 144/6 from their 20 overs.
Richard Ngarava (3/28) was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe. Consequently, the hosts were set a target of 145 runs to chase in their 20 overs.
In reply, it was watchful start from Zimbabwe in the run chase. Marumani played some funky shots early on in the powerplay but he perished for 9.
The duo of Dion Myers and Brian Bennett built up a crucial partnership. Both the batters played every ball to its merit putting their side in the drivers seat.
The 75-run partnership between Myers and Bennett was disrupted by Mohammad Nabi. With the stage set for Sikandar Raza to deliver a captain's knock and lead his team to victory in his 100th T20I for Zimbabwe, Raza unfortunately fell for a low score, failing to capitalize on the opportunity.
The match drifted away from the visitors in the 15th over of the second innings. It was a horrendous over from Naveen ul Haq who bowled 13 deliveries and conceded 19 runs. However, the other bowlers pulled things back and fought back by picking up a few wickets in the fag end of the innings.
The match went down to the wire with 11 runs were required off the final over of the match. It was Omarzai who was given the duties with the ball in hand. Zimbabwe held their nerve and got over the line in the final over of the match by 4 wickets!
Naveen ul Haq (3/33) was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan. This is Zimbabwe's first win at the Harare Sports Club against Afghanistan in T20Is. Crazy, crazy scenes at Harare as the crowd went berserk. Stay tuned for the Post-Match Presentation!
Tashinga Musekiwa: "I think to be fair, it is an honor to play for Zimbabwe. The love the boys gave me, it is amazing to be in the team. I think the day before yesterday, I went to see Elton Chigumbura. He is my mentor, he told me to calm myself and to let the practice that I have done all these years to do the job.
The boys played well. It was a struggle to strike early on against the new ball. In the end, we managed to use the big space and it paid off in the end."
The boys played well. It was a struggle to strike early on against the new ball. In the end, we managed to use the big space and it paid off in the end."
Time for the Post-Match Presentation.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan Captain): "Yeah, definitely the mindset was to post a good total on the board. I still believe we were 15-20 runs short.
We fought back really well. Nabi and Karim batted really well in the middle phase. We conceded lot of wickets I feel in the first half of our innings.
In T20 cricket, you will hardly get time to make a comeback in the game. I think we have to learn from our mistakes and fight back in the 2nd game.
Yeah, I think you know the way Nabi bowled in the second innings, brought us back in the game but as a skipper it is hard to decide at times. I always try to look into what the team requires and back my players."
We fought back really well. Nabi and Karim batted really well in the middle phase. We conceded lot of wickets I feel in the first half of our innings.
In T20 cricket, you will hardly get time to make a comeback in the game. I think we have to learn from our mistakes and fight back in the 2nd game.
Yeah, I think you know the way Nabi bowled in the second innings, brought us back in the game but as a skipper it is hard to decide at times. I always try to look into what the team requires and back my players."
Player of the Match: Brian Bennett
Brian Bennett (POTM): "Like I said last week. It is good to contribute to the team's cause. I did not get the start I wanted but in T20 cricket, you have a lot more time than you think, just got into my processes.
It is nice to bat with Dion, he is a nice mate of mine, wanted to bat a long time and keep up with the run-rate."
It is nice to bat with Dion, he is a nice mate of mine, wanted to bat a long time and keep up with the run-rate."
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe Captain): "Yeah certainly I am really happy, Zimbabwe needed that victory, we needed that victory. We wanted to show the fans that we want to win every game. A scratchy win like that will boost our confidence.
Certainly, sometimes the result is not in your hands. Everyone contributed today. Credit goes to Bennett, Ryan and the others. Special mention to Tashinga who was under a lot of pressure but has stood up for the team.
Tashinga was really good tonight. He did not have a good series against Pakistan but batted really well tonight.
First of all, I want to thank God. I never thought I would play 100 games for Zimbabwe. I got a lot of backings from the team, the management and the board. Special mention to the fans. If it wasn't because of their love, I wouldn't have been here."
Certainly, sometimes the result is not in your hands. Everyone contributed today. Credit goes to Bennett, Ryan and the others. Special mention to Tashinga who was under a lot of pressure but has stood up for the team.
Tashinga was really good tonight. He did not have a good series against Pakistan but batted really well tonight.
First of all, I want to thank God. I never thought I would play 100 games for Zimbabwe. I got a lot of backings from the team, the management and the board. Special mention to the fans. If it wasn't because of their love, I wouldn't have been here."
Phew!! Well that was an edge of the seat thriller at the Harare Sports Club. The hosts have registered their first ever win at this venue against Afghanistan in T20Is.
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ajay Pal Singh who, along with scorer/analyst Raju Khariya brought all the actions of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ajay Pal Singh who, along with scorer/analyst Raju Khariya brought all the actions of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋