Omarzai and Rashid lead Afghanistan to T20I series win over sloppy Zimbabwe
After scoring just 127, Zimbabwe had a chance with Afghanistan at 45 for 4, but they let the advantage slip
After scoring just 127, Zimbabwe had a chance with Afghanistan at 45 for 4, but they let the advantage slip
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Vishal Dikshit
5.50pm The trophy is handed over, the Afghanistan team takes over with the trophy and there are smiles all over to celebrate the series win. That's all from us today for this game and series, now we wait for the ODIs and two Tests. Hope it was as much fun for you all on our coverage as it was for me, Vishal Dikshit, and Himanshu Agrawal to cover this series decider. Himanshu's report is here already for you to catch up with the missed action. Thanks all, ciao!
Rashid Khan is here with a smile: Quite happy with the series win after losing the first game. The way we came back was great, especially in our fielding which is very key on such big grounds. It's always crucial for you to finish games, especially low-scoring games are tough. The partnership between Azmat and Naib was crucial, but still lots of things to learn from us especially for big games in big events. As a bowler it gives you energy to get wickets before the ODI series. 80-90% of our team is ODI team so they all know how to go about it, they've seen the conditions, and winning always gives you a good vibe in the dressing room.
Sikandar Raza: I personally don't think this is a wicket where you score 12, we needed 150 here. Big boundaries so a lot of good running is required. We played too many big shots to get those runs, we're repeating those mistakes. But I'm hopeful we'll turn it around. I don't think it's mental, the change room is quite relaxed, everyone is backing everyone. We targeted the wrong bowlers at the wrong time. Once the singles dried up, we only tried to get boundaries. the top seven batters had 21 dismissals and majority had the wrong shots at the wrong time. We tried everything and hence the game went to the last over. It's just not meant to be, it's quite difficult to defend 127 and those extras certainly killed us today.
Naveen-ul-Haq is the Player of the Series for his eight wickets in the series: The first couple of games were difficult, today was a bit overcast so the ball was seaming around. The first couple of practice sessions helped us a lot, the first game was a bit tough on us. A challenging series for us, but in the end a good result. As I saw the overcast conditions, we thought the first over would swing. I guess I preferred the lefties to bowl to.
Azmatullah Omarzai is the Player of the Match: Always happy to be the Man of the Match. IT was a tough situation to bat so I tried to stay calm and rotate the strike. It's my job and whenever I get the chance to I try to give 100%.
5.28pm A slim, nervy three-wicket win for Afghanistan in the end after a fiery display of fast bowling from Zimbabwe to try and defend this low total. They were right in the game by bringing the equation down to run a ball and with two crucial wickets from the captain Sikandar Raza but it was Nabi's experience that made the difference in the end. What a new-ball burst of fast bowling from Ngarava and Muzarabani though, reducing Afghanistan to 36 for 3 in the powerplay. Gwandu kept the pressure up by striking with the big wicket of Gurbaz in his first over before a 48-run stand between Naib and Omarzai turned things in Afghanistan's favour and Nabi did the rest.
What didn't help Zimbabwe? A few rash shots that threw the wickets away and those 17 extras (with 16 wides) compared to just seven from Afghanistan. Don't forget that 11-ball over from Faraz Akram that had five wides. Lessons to learn for them, because they came very close to winning their first T20I series against Afghanistan. And they instead slump to their seventh straight bilateral series loss in T20Is.
Azweer : "Congratulations Afghanistan. Keep rocking... ICC tournaments aren't far away..."
Hans: "A T20 match, scoring an aggregate of 257 runs but without a single six, however some big hitters played in both sides. Congrats Afghanistan for winning another series in 2024. Such a great year for Afghan cricket."
Manthan Jain: "Extras cost Zimbabwe..."
Mohammad Nabi In the middle we threw some wickets which put the pressure back on us. But I controlled my nerves. It gives me confidence as a batter. Going into the ODI series, we now know the series, the wicket is not easy, it's a bit up and down. The pitch for the first two games was better, today it was up and down.
Scores level now
Nabi will be on strike as Mujeeb joins Nabi. Who gets the ball for Zimbabwe, it's Faraz Akram's medium pace over the experience and left-arm spin of Masakadza. The keeper is up, seven to win from six, five men still in the circle
Rashid Khan c Faraz Akram b Gwandu 2 (6m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.00
The batters come down for a chat before the last ball. Raza also makes some field changes by sending fine leg back and brining midwicket in
Eight to win from eight now
Raza gives some advice to Gwandu from mid-off
After scoring just 127, Zimbabwe had a chance with Afghanistan at 45 for 4, but they let the advantage slip