Afghanistan wrapped up a commanding 8-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the third and final ODI of their tour at the Harare Sports Club. With this win, Afghanistan secured a 2-0 series triumph after the first game was abandoned due to rain. The performance was highlighted by a dominant bowling display led by 18-year-old Allah Ghazanfar and a composed chase by Afghanistan’s top-order batters.
Zimbabwe’s innings: A struggle for momentum
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Zimbabwe found themselves in early trouble as the Afghan bowlers exploited the conditions expertly. Zimbabwe’s openers, Joylord Gumbie (3 off 14) and Ben Curran (12 off 31), struggled to get the innings off to a solid start. Craig Ervine’s (5 off 5) brief stay was ended by a sharp delivery from Azmatullah Omarzai.
The only resistance in the Zimbabwean innings came from veteran Sean Williams, who displayed class and resilience with a counterattacking 60 off 61 balls, including 6 fours and 3 towering sixes. Sikandar Raza chipped in with 13 off 18, but the rest of the batting lineup faltered under Afghanistan’s relentless attack. Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for a paltry 127 in 30.1 overs.
Allah Ghazanfar was the star with the ball, claiming a career-best 5/33 in his full quota of 10 overs. Rashid Khan provided excellent support, taking 3/38 in eight overs, while Fareed Malik and Omarzai picked up a wicket apiece.
Afghanistan’s chase: Steady and clinical
Chasing 128, Afghanistan’s openers provided a solid foundation. Sediqullah Atal led the charge with a fluent 52 off 50 balls, laced with 4 fours and two sixes. His aggressive approach ensured there were no early jitters for the visitors. Abdul Malik played a patient knock of 29 off 66, holding one end as Afghanistan built a steady partnership.
Rahmat Shah (17 off 23) and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (20 off 22) ensured there were no hiccups in the chase, with Shahidi sealing the win with a boundary. Afghanistan reached the target in just 26.5 overs, comfortably outpacing Zimbabwe’s paltry total.
For Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava (1/32) and Trevor Gwandu (1/27) managed to pick up a wicket each, but their efforts were insufficient to halt Afghanistan’s march to victory.
𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 🏆#NewCoverPhoto | #AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/61PRFSL7eY
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 21, 2024
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Key takeaways and series wrap-up
Afghanistan’s dominance in the series was evident, particularly in their bowling department, where young talents like Ghazanfar rose to the occasion. Ghazanfar’s match-winning performance in the final ODI capped an impressive series for the visitors.
For Zimbabwe, the series highlighted the need for greater consistency, particularly in their batting lineup, which failed to deliver under pressure. Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza remain their standout players, but the team will need collective improvement as they shift their focus to the Test series starting on December 26 at Queens Sports Club.
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