Afghanistan complete emphatic series sweep over Zimbabwe

A 159-run opening stand set the platform for Afghanistan's nine-run victory in the final T20I as they swept the series 3-0 against Zimbabwe. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (92 off 48) and Ibrahim Zadran (60 off 49) laid the base for Afghanistan's imposing total of 210 for 3. Sikandar Raza struck a blitzy half-century in the chase, while Brian Bennett and Ryan Burl came up with quick-fire knocks, which, however, went in vain as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 201 at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday (November 2).

A 19-run opening over set the tone for Afghanistan's innings as Gurbaz smashed three fours and a six off Wellington Masakadza. Zadran got going with two fours off Richard Ngarava while Tinotenda Maposa went for 23 in the fourth over, which included four boundaries for Zadran and a six for Gurbaz, as Afghanistan raced past 50. Gurbaz also got a lucky break as Brad Evans put down a catch off his own bowling. The openers both got into the 30s as they took Afghanistan to 73 for 0 at the end of the PowerPlay.

Gurbaz scored the boundaries regularly as he brought up a 30-ball fifty soon after Afghanistan crossed 100 in the 11th over. Zadran got to his third fifty of the series soon after, getting there off 36 deliveries. Zimbabwe managed four overs without a boundary but Afghanistan roared back with a 30-run 14th over, bowled by Burl. Gurbaz, who was on 58 off 38, blazed to 88 off 44 as he struck three fours and as many sixes in the 14th over. Even as Raza finished with figures of 0 for 20 from his four overs, the others were leaking runs as Afghanistan moved to 155 for 0 after 15 overs.

The partnership finally came to an end when Raza took an excellent catch that led to the dismissal of Gurbaz in the 90s, giving Ngarava the first wicket. Evans removed the other set batter, getting Zadran bowled. Afghanistan were 166 for 2 after 17 and then got 44 in the last three overs as Sediqullah Atal smashed three sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 35 off 15 balls to power Afghanistan to a big total.

Zimbabwe's chase didn't start too well, with Dion Myers getting run out and Brendan Taylor miscuing a catch to mid-on in the third over off Fazalhaq Farooqi. The innings finally gained some momentum when Raza struck a four off Fareed Ahmad Malik, followed by a four and a six for Bennett in the same over. Raza ended the powerplay with a four off Mujeeb Ur Rahman but Zimbabwe, who were 48 for 2 after six, had a lot of catching up to do.

The innings picked up pace as Raza and Bennett found the fence regularly. Raza struck two fours off Fareed and one off Sharafuddin Ashraf before Abdullah Ahmadzai went for 19 in the ninth over, which included a six apiece for Bennett and Raza, along with a four for the latter. At the halfway stage, Zimbabwe were 92 for 2 but the required rate had almost reached 12. Raza struck a six and a four off Nabi in the 11th over en route to a 28-ball fifty but fell soon after, dragging one onto the stumps trying to play a sweep. Brian Bennett followed soon after, getting out to Ahmadzai on 47. Burl, however, kept the fight going with regular sixes as he took Zimbabwe to 151 for 4 after 15 overs.

Burl struck his fifth maximum, off Mujeeb, before getting an inside edge onto the stumps in the same over. Tashinga Musekiwa struck a few boundaries but Zimbabwe were losing wickets at the other end as Fareed accounted for Clive Madande and Evans in the same over. Zimbabwe needed 29 off the last two overs but they fell well short, despite Musekiwa's 17-ball 28. Farooqi picked up the wicket of Musekiwa after being hit for a six while Ahmadzai dismissed Maposa and Ngarava in the final over.

Brief scores: Afghanistan 210/3 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 92, Ibrahim Zadran 60; Brad Evans 2-33) beat Zimbabwe 201 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 51, Brian Bennett 47; Abdullah Ahmadzai 3-42) by 9 runs.