127/10 (16.1)
CR : 7.86
180/6 (20.0)
CR : 9.00
Afghanistan won by 53 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Azmatullah Omarzai
3/2927(21)
8:20 PM IST, 3:10 PM Local Time | Afghanistan seal a massive victory at the Harare Sports Club to take a 1-0 lead in this T20I series against Zimbabwe! They defeat the hosts by 53 runs!
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first! Their decision was spot on, as after a cautious start, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz blazed their way to a 76-run opening stand to lay down the foundation for Afghanistan to establish a score of 180/6 at the end of their 20 overs.
Ibrahim Zadran scored a blistering 52 runs off 33 balls to become their top-scorer, and with the help of the debutant Shahidullah Kamal's unbeaten 13-ball 22 cameo towards the end, Afghanistan set a big total for Zimbabwe to chase.
For Zimbabwe, their skipper Sikandar Raza was the pick of the bowlers with 3/20 from his 4 overs. While Blessing Muzarabani chipped in with a couple of wickets too.
Come the chase, Brian Bennett was all over Azmatullah Omarzai in the first over, hitting him for 15 big runs. However, that was a false dawn for the hosts as Mujeeb and Omarzai combined to pick up 4 wickets in the next 2 overs, destroying the Zimbabwean top order in the powerplay. Omarzai had his revenge in the penultimate over of the powerplay to dismiss Brian Bennett for 24 runs off 15 balls, and leave Zimbabwe reeling at 30/5 after 5 overs.
Post that, there was no chance for Zimbabwe to recover and win the match, but their lower middle order came in handy to save the hosts from an embarrassing defeat. Tinotenda Mapusa led the charge with 32 runs off 15 balls, and together with Brad Evans (24 runs off 19 balls) established a 50+ partnership for the 8th wicket to push Zimbabwe's score beyond the 100 run-mark!
In the end, it was too much to do for Zimbabwe's lower middle order, as Mujeeb came back into the attack to pick up 2 more wickets, and Ahmadzai found the timber of Blessing Muzarabani to end Zimbabwe's innings at 127 all-out after 16.1 overs.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman finished as Afghanistan's best bowler with 4/20 in just 3 overs! Azmatullah Omarzai's adventures in the powerplay meant he finished with 3/29 from his 4 overs, and Abdollah Ahmadzai's 2/20 from 2.1 overs ensured Afghanistan went ahead in the series with a statement victory.
Ibrahim Zadran scored a blistering 52 runs off 33 balls to become their top-scorer, and with the help of the debutant Shahidullah Kamal's unbeaten 13-ball 22 cameo towards the end, Afghanistan set a big total for Zimbabwe to chase.
For Zimbabwe, their skipper Sikandar Raza was the pick of the bowlers with 3/20 from his 4 overs. While Blessing Muzarabani chipped in with a couple of wickets too.
Come the chase, Brian Bennett was all over Azmatullah Omarzai in the first over, hitting him for 15 big runs. However, that was a false dawn for the hosts as Mujeeb and Omarzai combined to pick up 4 wickets in the next 2 overs, destroying the Zimbabwean top order in the powerplay. Omarzai had his revenge in the penultimate over of the powerplay to dismiss Brian Bennett for 24 runs off 15 balls, and leave Zimbabwe reeling at 30/5 after 5 overs.
Post that, there was no chance for Zimbabwe to recover and win the match, but their lower middle order came in handy to save the hosts from an embarrassing defeat. Tinotenda Mapusa led the charge with 32 runs off 15 balls, and together with Brad Evans (24 runs off 19 balls) established a 50+ partnership for the 8th wicket to push Zimbabwe's score beyond the 100 run-mark!
In the end, it was too much to do for Zimbabwe's lower middle order, as Mujeeb came back into the attack to pick up 2 more wickets, and Ahmadzai found the timber of Blessing Muzarabani to end Zimbabwe's innings at 127 all-out after 16.1 overs.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman finished as Afghanistan's best bowler with 4/20 in just 3 overs! Azmatullah Omarzai's adventures in the powerplay meant he finished with 3/29 from his 4 overs, and Abdollah Ahmadzai's 2/20 from 2.1 overs ensured Afghanistan went ahead in the series with a statement victory.
Most T20 Wickets Among Afghanistan Bowlers:
678 - Rashid Khan (498 Matches)
388 - Mohammad Nabi (461 Matches)
300* - Mujeeb Ur Rahman (274 Matches)
678 - Rashid Khan (498 Matches)
388 - Mohammad Nabi (461 Matches)
300* - Mujeeb Ur Rahman (274 Matches)
Time for the post-match presentation ceremony..
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe Captain): "I thought Afghan boys played well in the powerplay. We brought it back well though. I thought 200 is what they would get initially but we did well. Another game where we made some small errors and that cost us.
I thought the wicket played really well. There was bounce for the seamers and I do not think it was a slow surface. In fact, to be honest we just fell short in all the three departments at certain points. We couldn't capitalize with bat and ball. Also, I do not think we were on par in the field.
See, if you are 5 down in the powerplay you are always playing catch up and it does not help chasing a big total. Very proud of Maposa and Evans to show that resistance at the end.
I mean if we were just 3 down after the powerplay a partnership like that could get us over the line. The reality is that we just lost too many wickets early on. The pair gave us something to cheer for sure but to be honest we would not want to see them bat this often. Rather the top order does it.
Still two games to go and we are sure of putting up a better performance on Friday."
I thought the wicket played really well. There was bounce for the seamers and I do not think it was a slow surface. In fact, to be honest we just fell short in all the three departments at certain points. We couldn't capitalize with bat and ball. Also, I do not think we were on par in the field.
See, if you are 5 down in the powerplay you are always playing catch up and it does not help chasing a big total. Very proud of Maposa and Evans to show that resistance at the end.
I mean if we were just 3 down after the powerplay a partnership like that could get us over the line. The reality is that we just lost too many wickets early on. The pair gave us something to cheer for sure but to be honest we would not want to see them bat this often. Rather the top order does it.
Still two games to go and we are sure of putting up a better performance on Friday."
Player of the Match: Azmatullah Omarzai
Azmatullah Omarzai (Player of the Match): "First of all, I'm happy for the win. In the batting, credit to Ibra and Rahman for giving us a good start, and we were able to carry forward the momentum. In bowling, we bowled with discipline and accuracy, and used our variations well, which allowed us to succeed.
We have a good bowling attack, and we were targeting 160 runs with the bat. Once we got 180, we were very confident. We stuck to our plans and won the game. The wicket was slow, and the plan was the bowl in the right areas, which helped us to win the game."
We have a good bowling attack, and we were targeting 160 runs with the bat. Once we got 180, we were very confident. We stuck to our plans and won the game. The wicket was slow, and the plan was the bowl in the right areas, which helped us to win the game."
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan Captain): "Pretty happy with this win. We lost two big games in the Asia Cup, and then in the series against Bangladesh. (But) The openers set the tone, and then Azmat and Mujeeb were brilliant. Very happy with this win - it was a team effort.
See, this is the same team which went to the semis (in the 2024 T20 WC), and it is the same team that lost in the Asia Cup. It's all about mindset.
We were missing on good starts in the Asia Cup, but today we had a nice stand from Ibrahim and Gurbaz. We have a lot of expectations from them. Hopefully, they will continue doing so."
See, this is the same team which went to the semis (in the 2024 T20 WC), and it is the same team that lost in the Asia Cup. It's all about mindset.
We were missing on good starts in the Asia Cup, but today we had a nice stand from Ibrahim and Gurbaz. We have a lot of expectations from them. Hopefully, they will continue doing so."
That's it from this cracker of a match, folks! Join us back tomorrow as we bring you all the LIVE action from around the world!
Until then, this is Anirudh Modi, signing off along with my colleagues Arjun Bhalla, Manan Mehta, and Manish Bishnoi! See you at the next one.
Until then, this is Anirudh Modi, signing off along with my colleagues Arjun Bhalla, Manan Mehta, and Manish Bishnoi! See you at the next one.