Afghanistan topped Zimbabwe in a final T20I match played at Harare Sports Club on Sunday, winning the game by nine runs and sweeping the three‑match series 3‑0.
The Afghan openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, hit a blistering 159‑run partnership that set the tone from the start. Gurbaz scored 92 from 48 balls, while Zadran followed with a steady 60 off 49. Together they pushed Afghanistan to 210 for 3 in 20 overs.
Afghanistan’s bowlers kept Zimbabwe to 201 for 10, limiting the hosts to a quick 201 before the innings finished. Brad Evans delivered a tidy 2‑for‑33, while other bowlers made key breakthroughs to secure the win.
Early in the game, Gurbaz struck a 19‑run opening over against Wellington Masakadza, and the momentum never faded. Zadran helped build the score while Richard Ngarava, Tinotenda Maposa and other bowlers put pressure on Zimbabwe’s batsmen, but Afghanistan stayed ahead. Once the openers had 73 for no loss at the end of the powerplay, Gurbaz reached a fifty in just 30 balls.
Zadran’s third fifty of the series came next, and a burst from Ryan Burl helped Zimbabwe’s top scorer Sikandar Raza score 30 off the ball‑hit over, though that field‑work weakened thereafter. Afghanistan’s score climbed to 155 for no loss after 15 overs.
Gurbaz was caught by Raza off Ngarava to bring the opening stand to an end at 159. Evans later trapped Zadran for 60, leaving Afghanistan at 166 for 2. Sediqullah Atal finished the innings with a brilliant 35 not out from 15, taking Afghanistan’s total to 210.
Zimbabwe’s chase faltered early when Dion Myers was run‑out and Brendan Taylor mis‑hit a shot. However, Sikandar Raza and Brian Bennett kept wickets open, making their corners in a few overs. By the halfway mark, Zimbabwe were 92 for 2 and the required run rate was approaching 12.
Burl had a standout moment when his fifth over yielded six runs and an inside edge into his own stumps. Tashinga Musekiwa later sparked hope with a 28 off 17, but the wickets fell at the other end while Zimbabwe tried to bulldoze toward the target.
The Afghan bowlers fought back, taking the key wickets of Maposa and Ngarava in the final over. Zimbabwe could finish at 201, missing the win by nine runs.
Crucial stats:
– Afghanistan 210/3 (Gurbaz 92, Zadran 60);
– Zimbabwe 201/10 (Raza 51, Bennett 47).
Afghanistan’s 3‑0 victory cements their dominance in the series, and the final T20I showcased the power and resilience of the Afghan side.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
