AI Simulation, ZIM vs AFG second T20I | Mujeeb and Omarzai power Afghanistan to series win in Harare

‌Pitch & Weather

The Harare pitch was flat and dry with modest bounce, assisting the batters early on, before slowing down as the spinners came to the fore later in the match.

A warm afternoon with light breeze welcomed both sides to the Harare Sports Club. Though it was cloudy throughout the game, the rain gods did not intervene as the crowds enjoyed uninterrupted cricketing action.

Toss & Conditions

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

Lineups

Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Shahidullah, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad, Abdollah Ahmadzai.

Match Report

Harare Sports Club witnessed another enthralling T20 contest as Afghanistan held their nerve to defeat Zimbabwe by 12 runs in the second match of the series. A good weekday crowd was treated to bursts of brilliance from both sides but Afghanistan’s balance and death bowling ultimately proved decisive as they sealed the three-match series.

Sent in to bat, Rahmanullah Gurbaz wasted no time stamping his authority on the home side’s new ball bowlers. He launched into Blessing Muzarabani early, cracking six boundaries and two towering sixes in an electric 41 off 24 balls. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Zadran supported steadily from the other end as Afghanistan cruised to 55/0 inside five overs. Zimbabwe needed control and found it from their captain Sikandar Raza, who removed both openers with his clever change of pace. Afghanistan briefly stuttered, but Azmatullah Omarzai’s enterprising cameo of 36 from 23 balls, which included three sixes and two fours, reignited the scoring at the death as the visitors ended at 164/7. Raza was the home side’s best bowler on display with an impressive spell of 3/27 in four overs, while Muzarabani was expensive, conceding 37 runs for his two wickets.

Zimbabwe began their chase with a spark as Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani struck cleanly in the powerplay. But Mujeeb Ur Rahman extracted turn and deceived the hosts’ batters with drift dismissing Marumani and the dangerous Raza in quick succession. Soon, Bennett also walked back, after hitting four fours and a six, in his 21-ball 33.  However, Brendan Taylor (20) steadied Zimbabwe’s innings and together with Ryan Burl (25), also kept the required rate under check. Burl’s sweetly timed six over mid-wicket came as a shot in the arm for the home side, but Rashid Khan’s tight overs in the middle choked momentum and forced mistakes. With 28 needed from the last three overs, Omarzai returned to remove Brad Evans and Tinotenda Maposa, ending Zimbabwe’s final push as the hosts fell short at 152/9. Mujeeb excelled yet again with figures of 3/25 in four overs, while skipper Rashid Khan and Omarzai had two wickets each.

Player of the Match

Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman was named Player of the Match for his game-changing spell in powerplay, removing two top order Zimbabwe batters.

Scorecard