129/3 (18.0)
CR : 7.17
125/10 (19.3)
CR : 6.41
Afghanistan won by 7 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Rashid Khan
3/9
Over 18
Afghanistan 129/3
Azmatullah Omarzai25(13)
Ibrahim Zadran57(51)
Richard Ngarava0-35(4.0)
AFG won by 7 wickets
8:05 PM IST, 4:35 PM Local Time | Afghanistan take an unassailable 2-0 lead in this 3-match T20I series! Another comprehensive display from the visitors to defeat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets!
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first! After a cautious start from the openers, it was Mujeeb ur Rahman once again who broke through for the visitors, and Afghanistan never looked back after that. Led by skipper Rashid Khan's post-injury 3/9 from 3 overs, Afghanistan bowled out the hosts for 125 runs in 19.3 overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Abdullah Ahmadzai chipped in with a couple of wickets each to help the cause.
For Zimbabwe, none of their batters got going in the innings, with skipper Sikandar Raza top-scoring with 37 runs, and Tony Munyonga's 19 runs being the second-best score by an individual batter for them.
Come the chase, it looked like an easy one with Afghanistan's solid batting power. Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave the impetus at the top with 16 runs off 12 balls before Brad Evans forced a false shot down the ground to dismiss the dangerous batter.
However, Afghanistan were in no mood to collapse today as Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal combined to stitch together a 37-run stand for the second wicket to break the back with this chase. The spin duo of Zimbabwe in Sikandar Raza and Wellington Masakadza combined to put the choke on in the middle overs, but Afghanistan were in control throughout.
Ibrahim Zadran stayed unbeaten at 57 runs off 51 balls, and together with Azmatullah Omarzai's 25 runs off 13 balls ensured the Afghans crossed the finish line with 12 balls to spare!
For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans was the pick of the bowlers with 2/21 in 3 overs, but despite his best efforts, the game went the way of Afghanistan.
However, Afghanistan were in no mood to collapse today as Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal combined to stitch together a 37-run stand for the second wicket to break the back with this chase. The spin duo of Zimbabwe in Sikandar Raza and Wellington Masakadza combined to put the choke on in the middle overs, but Afghanistan were in control throughout.
Ibrahim Zadran stayed unbeaten at 57 runs off 51 balls, and together with Azmatullah Omarzai's 25 runs off 13 balls ensured the Afghans crossed the finish line with 12 balls to spare!
For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans was the pick of the bowlers with 2/21 in 3 overs, but despite his best efforts, the game went the way of Afghanistan.
Time for post-game presentation...
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe Captain): "For me, the most disappointing thing is that we have played a lot of cricket behind this series and this is not the Zimbabwe we know, as it doesn't score so less runs. I am disappointed with myself as I was set in the middle and should have scored more than what I eventually did. Our batting has to improve. We will be coming better in the future.
(On electing to bat first) I saw the wicket and told teammates that it is a 145-150 wicket. It was a bit on the slower side, so I thought batting first would be better. But we couldn't post a good total.
(On second innings) I told the boys that we have defended even lower totals against some better teams. I told them to go hard. The boys gave everything they had, but the score was too low, especially considering that it was being played at the Harare Sports Club, where boundaries are not very big. However, boys are hungry to perform and they will come better in the future."
(On electing to bat first) I saw the wicket and told teammates that it is a 145-150 wicket. It was a bit on the slower side, so I thought batting first would be better. But we couldn't post a good total.
(On second innings) I told the boys that we have defended even lower totals against some better teams. I told them to go hard. The boys gave everything they had, but the score was too low, especially considering that it was being played at the Harare Sports Club, where boundaries are not very big. However, boys are hungry to perform and they will come better in the future."
Player of the Match: Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan hands over his Player of the Match Award to Abdullah Ahmadzai!
Rashid Khan (Player of the Match & Afghanistan Captain): "Abdullah is a great talent for Afghanistan. We need to give him more time, and he will have a bright future for Afghanistan. It's about giving him the positive energy. It's about welcoming the youngster, making him feel comfortable, and giving him confidence to deliver on his skills, and so far, he has been outstanding.
If I go on and bowl a couple of overs, it will be great for the team, and if I take a couple of wickets, we can restrict them to 130. The ball was not coming onto the bat well, and I am glad the plan worked out.
We are in the kind of situation where we will have tough times, and we can only learn from that. The big thing is that the World Cup is coming up, and how we will implement ourselves there. The finger is still bleeding; it does not look good, but tomorrow I am going to have an X-ray, and we will see what the status is."
If I go on and bowl a couple of overs, it will be great for the team, and if I take a couple of wickets, we can restrict them to 130. The ball was not coming onto the bat well, and I am glad the plan worked out.
We are in the kind of situation where we will have tough times, and we can only learn from that. The big thing is that the World Cup is coming up, and how we will implement ourselves there. The finger is still bleeding; it does not look good, but tomorrow I am going to have an X-ray, and we will see what the status is."
Afghanistan have scripted yet another series victory in the shortest format in Zimbabwe. It turned out to be another clinical day at the office for Rashid Khan's men. But Sikandar Raza and Zimbabwe also put up a fight in the middle overs. However, the game was long gone by.
With this seven-wicket victory, Afghanistan have sealed the series. But Zimbabwe will be eager to take revenge and save themselves from a whitewash on Sunday. Let us see how that unfolds...
Till then, keep enjoying cricketing action on Crickxo. This is Arjun Bhalla signing off on behalf of my colleagues - Mohammad Anab, Anirudh Modi, Manish Bishnoi, Paras Yadav and Aman (stats guy).
With this seven-wicket victory, Afghanistan have sealed the series. But Zimbabwe will be eager to take revenge and save themselves from a whitewash on Sunday. Let us see how that unfolds...
Till then, keep enjoying cricketing action on Crickxo. This is Arjun Bhalla signing off on behalf of my colleagues - Mohammad Anab, Anirudh Modi, Manish Bishnoi, Paras Yadav and Aman (stats guy).