ASHLEY DUBE
Afghanistan – 144-6 in 20 overs (Karim Janat 54*, Mohammad Nabi 44, Hazratullah Zazai 20; Richard Ngarava 3/28, Wellington Masakadza 1/18, Blessing Muzarabani 1/26)
Zimbabwe – 145-6 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 49, Dion Myers 32, Tashinga Musekiwa 16*; Naveen-ul-Haq 3/33, Rashid Khan 2/26, Mohammad Nabi 1/13)
Zimbabwe won by four wickets
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| Image: Zimbabwe Cricket |
Zimbabwe snatched a thrilling last-ball victory in the opening T20I match against Afghanistan, thanks to a crucial 13-run final over from Naveen-ul-Haq and a dramatic final-over cameo from Tashinga Musekiwa.
Chasing 145, Zimbabwe faced a challenging equation of 21 runs from 12 balls after frugal bowling from Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. However, Naveen's expensive final over and Azmatullah Omarzai's inability to defend ten runs in the last over paved the way for a tense finish.
Musekiwa hit a four the first ball of the 20th over before some excellent running particularly from Wellington Masakadza had Zimbabwe level. With the scores tied and the field spread, he drove straight to the mid-off boundary to secure the win.
The tension had mounted in the final seven overs after Mohammad Nabi dismissed the well-set Dion Myers, breaking a 75-run stand with Brian Bennett and pushing the required run rate above nine. However, Musekiwa’s heroics ensured a memorable victory for Zimbabwe in front of their enthusiastic Harare crowd.
Naveen-ul-Haq's final over proved disastrous, yielding 19 runs, primarily from wide balls and a boundary struck by Sikandar Raza. Raza, however, was soon dismissed by a slower ball, his brief cameo lasting only five legal deliveries.
Rashid Khan, after a less impactful start, dismissed the well-set Brian Bennett (49) with a slider and later had Ryan Burl caught out.
Zimbabwe's chase began under pressure from Naveen's maiden over and restrictive bowling against Tadiwanashe Marumani. However, a dropped catch of Bennett (on 8) by Naveen proved costly. Rashid Khan conceded two boundaries to Dion Myers in the powerplay, and Myers continued his aggressive approach, hitting boundaries off Fareed Ahmad and Rashid later in the innings.
Bennett also contributed significantly, smashing boundaries off Azmatullah Omarzai. The asking rate climbed to nine before Myers’s late boundary and Bennett’s onslaught on Omarzai shifted the momentum, setting up a dramatic finale.
Afghanistan, electing to bat first, lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early to Richard Ngarava's extra bounce. Sediqullah Atal was also dismissed, despite an early reprieve (Wessly Madhevere put down a tough chance in the deep). Hazratullah Zazai showed promise, hitting boundaries before falling to Blessing Muzarabani.
With Afghanistan struggling at 58/5 in the 11th over, Mohammad Nabi joined Azmatullah Omarzai. Their partnership was aided by some sloppy Zimbabwean fielding, including a misfield by Ryan Burl that turned a two into a three. Omarzai also benefited from a dropped catch by Muzarabani.
Nabi steadily accumulated runs, hitting boundaries off Richard Ngarava in the 16th over to take Afghanistan past 100. He continued his assault in the death overs, smashing a six and three fours off Trevor Gwandu – the last boundary resulting from another fielding error.
The Nabi-Omarzai partnership yielded 79 runs from 49 balls before Ngarava dismissed Nabi in the 19th over. Omarzai remained unbeaten on 54 from 49 balls, playing a composed anchor role. Despite the late pressure, neither Omarzai nor Rashid Khan could find the boundary against Gwandu in the final over.
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