Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I Highlights: Afghanistan Beat Zimbabwe By Six Wickets
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I, Highlights: Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by six wickets in the first T20I on Saturday
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I, Live Score Updates:Hazratullah Zazai and Najibullah Zadran played knocks of 45 and 44 respectively as Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by six wickets in the first T20I on Saturday at Harare Sports Club. Chasing 160, Afghanistan got off to a good start as openers Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz put on 83 runs for the first wicket. Zimbabwe took three wickets in quick succession but Afghanistan managed to hang on to register a win. Earlier, Sikandar Raza played a 45-run knock as Zimbabwe posted 159/8 in 20 overs. Wesley Madhevere and Regis Chakabva chipped in with knocks of 32 and 29 respectively and a combined batting effort saw Zimbabwe post a score of more than the 155-run mark. For Afghanistan, Nijat Masood returned with three wickets.(LIVE SCORECARD)
Playing XIs
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nijat Masood
Zimbabwe: Wesley Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Craig Ervine(c), Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Regis Chakabva(w), Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani
Here are the Live Score Updates from 1st T20I between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan from Harare Sports Club In Harare
Zimbabwe Cricket Team
Afghanistan
Rashid Khan
Mohammad Nabi
Craig Ervine
Zim vs Afg, 1st T20I Live
We are back for the chase! The umpires are out in the middle and so are the players of Zimbabwe. Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are ready to open the innings for Afghanistan. Tendai Chatara to start proceedings with the ball here.
... The Run Chase ...
Right then, 158 is the par score on this ground batting first and Zimbabwe have just about managed to surpass it. The wicket is good but the ball is holding a bit in the surface. Given the destructive batting lineup of Afghanistan, they should be able to get the win here but if the hosts bowl and field well then who knows what might happen. Stay tuned for the run chase.
Afghanistan skipper, Mohammad Nabi is up for a quick chat. He says it is a decent pitch for batting. Mentions it is good total but is confident that his side could chase it down. Further adds he is happy with the performance of Nijat, they got him into the side for the World Cup preparation.
Afghanistan will be happier of the two sides going into the break but they have lost a bit of momentum in the last couple of overs, which might just make a difference when they come out to bat. The debutant Nijat Masood was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets whereas Faroozi and Rashid were economical as always. The visitors' fielding was on point as they inflicted a couple of sensational run-outs at crucial stages of the innings and will be looking to chase down this total.
In the end, Zimbabwe have got to a defendable total, all thanks to a bit of a blitz from the ever-dependable Sikandar Raza. The hosts lost Innocent Kaia early in the innings but both Wesley Madhevere and Craig Ervine were timing the ball sweetly. The issue with their innings was the regular loss of wickets and the hosts just couldn't get a substantial stand to take them to a big score. But cameos from Regis Chakabva and Raza have given them a good chance in the game and it will now depend on how they bowl.
LEG BYE! A yorker now, angled into the pads. Ainsley Ndlovu fails to tuck it away. The ball rolls out off the pads and the batters collect a leg bye. ZIMBABWE END at 159/8 AT THE END OF THE INNINGS.
A sharp yorker, on the fourth stump line. Ainsley Ndlovu tries to dig it out but misses.
FOUR! This time he connects and makes it count. It is full and on off. Ainsley Ndlovu goes on his knee and slogs it through the gap at mid-wicket for a boundary.
Slower one now! Full length, wide outside off. Ainsley Ndlovu tries to go after it but gets deceived by the pace here.
A slower one, full and on off. Tendai Chatara fends it to covers for a quick single.
Good running! Fuller, around off. Tendai Chatara punches it to covers. There is a bit of a fumble which allows the batters to come back for two.
A single now, as Chatara taps this length delivery to covers. An entertaining over comes to an end.
150 up for Zimbabwe. Length ball, on off. Ainsley Ndlovu taps it to backward point and scampers across for a quick single.
On a length, around off. Tendai Chatara guides it to third man for a single.
Tendai Chatara is the new man in.
OUT! CAUGHT! Sikandar Raza holes out at a crucial stage. It is a length ball, outside off. Raza throws his blade. It takes the outside edge and goes to the left of short third man. Hazratullah Zazai dives to his left to take a sharp catch.
SIX! BANG! Costly, costly from Nijat Masood and all of a sudden Zimbabwe seem on course of putting on a decent total. Length, around middle and leg. Raza hangs back and smokes it over Rashid Khan on the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.
NO BALL AND SIX! A bit of inexperience shown here by the debutant. Nijat Masood tries to go for the yorker but serves a high full toss around middle and leg. Raza does really well to pull it over the backward square leg fence for a biggie. Free Hit to follow...
In the air...lands safe! Length, around the top of off. Sikandar Raza tries to force the big shot down the ground but doesn't get enough on it. The ball clears mid off and is cut off in the deep by the long on fielder. Two taken!