Rahmat Shah, Mohammed Nabi star in Afghanistan's 60-run win over Zimbabwe
Jun 04, 2022
Harare [Zimbabwe], June 4 : Batter Rahmat Shah (94) was the star of the day for Afghanistan as the side registered a 60-run win over Zimbabwe in the first one-day international at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
It was a memorable outing for the Afghans on the field as they put an imposing total on the board for Zimbabwe and later the bowlers reciprocated the efforts of the batters. With this win, Afghanistan has taken a lead of 1-0 in the three-match ODI series.
Put in to bat first by Zimbabwe, Afghanistan lost the openers Ibrahim Zadran (5) in the seventh over and wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz (17) within the first eleven overs of the game on the score of 38.
From then onwards, Shah and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi started the rescue effort for their side and punished the Zimbabwe bowling attack. The batters led the resistance from the front and smashed the opposition all over the park. The 181-run stand ended in the 45th over of the game, with Shah falling six runs short of his hundred after being dismissed by pacer Blessing Muzarabani with assistance from safe hands of Donald Tiripano.
The skipper followed his partner back to the pavilion soon, with Muzarabani striking again and sinking Afghanistan to 232/4. In the end, spinner Rashid Khan played an entertaining cameo of 39* off just 17 with four fours and two sixes, taking his side to a challenging 276/5 in their 50 overs.
Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe, getting 4/52 in his nine overs. Tanaka Chivanga also got a scalp.
Chasing 277, Zimbabwe got off a poor start, losing keeper-batter Regis Chakabva (5) in the second over. Then, Innocent Kaia and skipper Craig Ervine attempted to rebuild the innings for their side. Their 61-run resistance against Afghans fell in the 15th over, with pacer Azmatullah Omarzai catching the skipper Ervine (30) off his own delivery. Wesley Madhevere and Kaia (39) were dismissed later, sinking Zimbabwe to 104/4 in 27.2 overs.
Batter Sikandar Raza tried to swing things in favour of his side despite the fall of two more wickets, crafting a careful 67 off 78, but he was dismissed by Rashid Khan in the 44th over of the game, sinking his side to 196/7. The rest of the Zimbabwe side could not withstand the Afghan bowling and were finally skittled at 216.
Mohammad Nabi was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan, taking 4/34 in ten overs. Rashid Khan (2/39) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (2/41) were other standout bowlers for the side.
Rahmat Shah was adjudged 'Man of the Match' for his 94.
