Afghanistan managed to win a very close and exciting match against Zimbabwe, thus taking the three-match T20I series 3-0 at the Harare Sports Club. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran φω the first two batters with outstanding half-centuries as the visiting side racked up a daunting total. After that, the bowlers were able to stay calm and in control, thus accomplishing a very close victory by nine runs and a clean sweep.
Gurbaz and Zadran lead batting charge with explosive partnership as Afghanistan leads
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the opening pair of Afghanistan India set the tone with a record-breaking 159-run partnership in just 15.4 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the main man as he hammered 92 runs off 48 balls including 8 fours and 5 sixes, while captain Ibrahim Zadran steadied the innings with a timely 60 from 49 balls. Sediqullah Atal came to the rescue of the middle order with an unbeaten 35 off 15 balls to take Afghanistan to a 210/3 score in 20 overs. Brad Evans was the best performer among the Zimbabwean bowlers as he returned with 2/33.
After losing two wickets cheaply, Zimbabwe afterwards looked quite decent as Brian Bennett and captain Sikandar Raza took the attack to the Afghan bowlers. When the two of them got together for the third wicket, they scored 85 runs with Raza smashing 51 runs off 29 balls and Bennett making 47 from 31 balls. Ryan Burl also made a rapid 37 runs off 15 balls, but the Afghan bowlers, supported by a 3-wicket haul by Abdollah Ahmadzai and 2 wickets each by Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad, dismissed Zimbabwe for 201, falling short of their target by nine runs.
