Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
20 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | AFG: 153/6 | RR: 7.65

  • Gulbadin Naib26 (21b)
  • Rashid Khan3 (2b)
  • Trevor Gwandu4-0-29-2
  • Richard Ngarava4-0-34-0

3:02pm Like the other day, Afghanistan found themselves in early trouble, losing three wickets in the powerplay. But Rasooli, coming into the side today, held fort and then increased the tempo gradually, finishing with 58 off 42 balls. There were handy contributions from Naib and Omarzai too, and those cameos have helped Afghanistan get past 150.

A decent bowling display from Zimbabwe too. Burl was the pick and it was thus perplexing that he did not bowl out. On a tired surface, Raza and Masakadza also went for 45 runs in five overs, which could yet prove to be costly. They will not mind chasing 154, although they will be aware that on a pitch where the ball has spun, Afghanistan will come hard at them. Join us in a bit for the chase!

Ryan Burl: I bowled two overs with the big boundary, so was trying to bowl into the wicket. We went spinners from one end, seamers from the other end (because of how the pitch was playing). When fielders come to the party, it helps a lot. There were a couple of misfields last match and we wanted to improve. Just nine more runs on the board, and hopefully we can chase it down. It is a used wicket, so a little bit slow. Don't think it is too different to the first match.

19.6
2
Gwandu to Gulbadin Naib, 2 runs, banged into the track outside off. Naib winds up and heaves it towards long on. Rashid urges him to come back for the second but Naib is always struggling. Seems to be running in quicksand but somehow makes it to the batter's end, helped by a slightly weak throw. Afghanistan finish with 153!

Luke: "Don't understand why Ryan Burl wasn't bowled out." -- That does seem a puzzling decision...

19.5
1
Gwandu to Rashid Khan, 1 run, cutter on a back of a length outside off. Rashid tries to hit it too hard and squirts it off the inside edge towards short fine leg
19.4
2
Gwandu to Rashid Khan, 2 runs, short ball outside off. Rashid stands up tall on his toes and swats it to long on's right. Returns for the second rather comfortably

Rashid comes in. He is standing outside off

19.3
W
Gwandu to Darwish Rasooli, OUT, goes straight up, and Rasooli has to walk back! Angled in full on middle and leg. Rasooli looks to go leg side but the ball sticks in the surface just enough to cause the leading edge. Swirls in the air but Raza, running to his right from extra cover, keeps his eyes on it and makes no mistake. A top knock and that has given Afghanistan a very respectable score to defend!

Darwish Rasooli c Sikandar Raza b Gwandu 58 (70m 42b 6x4 1x6) SR: 138.09

19.2
0
Gwandu to Darwish Rasooli, no run, banged into the track outside off. Seems like a change-up because it comes off much slower than Rasooli expects. He makes no contact with his ungainly hack
19.1
1
Gwandu to Gulbadin Naib, 1 run, into the blockhole outside off. Naib cannot get under it and clinks it towards long off

160 on the cards. This looks like a solid total on this track and with Afghanistan's bowling attack. Gwandu to bowl the last over

END OF OVER:
19 | 17 Runs | AFG: 147/5 | RR: 7.73

  • Darwish Rasooli58 (40b)
  • Gulbadin Naib23 (19b)
  • Richard Ngarava4-0-34-0
  • Blessing Muzarabani4-0-28-1
18.6
4
Ngarava to Darwish Rasooli, FOUR, three fours in a row, and four in the over! Slot ball wide outside off. Rasooli gives it the lot and even though he does not middle it, he skews it off the outside edge, fine enough to beat deep backward point!
18.5
4
Ngarava to Darwish Rasooli, FOUR, four more! Short again and too wide, which is not great bowling with short third in the ring. Rasooli opens his bat face and glides it over that fielder!
18.4
4
Ngarava to Darwish Rasooli, FOUR, brings up his maiden T20I fifty in style! Half-tracker outside off. Rasooli picks the length early, gives himself room and pulverizes it down the ground!
18.3
1
Ngarava to Gulbadin Naib, 1 run, full and wide outside off. Naib throws the kitchen sink at it and slices it towards deep backward point
18.2
4
Ngarava to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR, streaky but they all count! Short again, slanting across the batter outside off. Naib continues swinging like a rusty gate and this time, the ball flies off the outside edge past short third!
18.1
0
Ngarava to Gulbadin Naib, no run, sharp short ball just outside off. Whistles off the surface and Naib, hacking at it, is awfully late on the stroke. Plenty of carry too!

END OF OVER:
18 | 8 Runs | AFG: 130/5 | RR: 7.22

  • Gulbadin Naib18 (16b)
  • Darwish Rasooli46 (37b)
  • Blessing Muzarabani4-0-28-1
  • Richard Ngarava3-0-17-0
17.6
1
Muzarabani to Gulbadin Naib, 1 run, banged in short on middle and leg. Naib swipes it towards deep square leg and retains strike
17.5
2
Muzarabani to Gulbadin Naib, 2 runs, off-pace and into the track outside off. Naib shovels it towards deep square leg and takes on Musekiwa's arm. That was the bigger side and that allowed Naib to make it back for the second
17.4
0
Muzarabani to Gulbadin Naib, no run, right in the slot outside off. Naib looks to smash it into next week but only connects with fresh air
17.3
0
Muzarabani to Gulbadin Naib, no run, length outside off. Naib presses half forward and pushes it towards extra cover
17.2
4
Muzarabani to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR, scorched across the turf! Short outside off and there is enough pace to work with for Naib on this occasion. He sets up, rolls his wrists and razes it between deep backward square leg and deep mid wicket!
17.1
1
Muzarabani to Darwish Rasooli, 1 run, slower ball into the track on leg stump. Completely meddles with Rasooli's timing on the pull and he chips it rather tamely towards deep square leg

Muzarabani to bowl out

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs | AFG: 122/5 | RR: 7.17

  • Gulbadin Naib11 (11b)
  • Darwish Rasooli45 (36b)
  • Richard Ngarava3-0-17-0
  • Sikandar Raza3-0-26-0
16.6
0
Ngarava to Gulbadin Naib, no run, shortish outside off. Naib looks for the upper-cut but is beaten by the extra zip off the surface
16.5
1
Ngarava to Darwish Rasooli, 1 run, slower ball bowled full outside off. Rasooli drills it towards extra cover, where Myers sprawls to his right and keeps it to a single
16.4
0
Ngarava to Darwish Rasooli, no run, short and wide outside off. Rasooli has a wild swish at it and only grabs a handful of fresh air. Perplexed about not getting the wide but that seemed inside the tramlines
16.3
1
Ngarava to Gulbadin Naib, 1 run, slower delivery dug into the track outside off. Naib fetches it and drags it towards deep square leg
16.2
1
Ngarava to Darwish Rasooli, 1 run, banged into the track outside off. Rasooli shapes for the pull but gets no real purchase on it. Splices it to long on

Zimbabwe 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st19T MarumaniBJ Bennett
2nd6D MyersBJ Bennett
3rd15W MadhevereBJ Bennett
4th9Sikandar RazaBJ Bennett
5th8Sikandar RazaRP Burl
6th30Sikandar RazaT Musekiwa
7th5Sikandar RazaWP Masakadza
8th3Sikandar RazaR Ngarava
9th6Sikandar RazaB Muzarabani
10th2B MuzarabaniT Gwandu