AFG vs ZIM | 1st ODI | Afghanistan start the series on a dominating note

It was a clinical start to the Afghanistan team in the first fixture of the 3-match ODI series at Harare. They secured a victory over Zimbabwe by 60 runs and rose to the third position in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League points table. 

After winning the toss, Zimbabwe opted to field first, with Tanaka Chivanga and Innocent Kaia making their ODI debut. 

With little knowledge of the surface, visitors started cautiously but lost openers Ibrahim Zadran (5) Rahmanullah Gurbaz (17) in the first ten overs, with Blessing Muzarabani and Chivanga as their wicket-takers, respectively.

Rahmat Shah- Hashmatullah Shahidi Rescue Afghanistan  

After the early dismissals, the experienced batters Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi arrived at the crease. Both the batters took their time to settle down and then played delightful shots to sail the team past the score of 100 in the 25th over. 

As the spinners came into the attack, they rotated the strikes and steered the team to a secure position. The odd boundaries helped the duo and completed their respective half-centuries in and around the 36th over mark. 

After that, Shahidi and Shah attacked in a fine fashion, especially against the likes of Chivanga and Sikandar Raza, and the team reached the 200-run mark in the 43rd over. 

Muzarabani puts an end to a dangerous partnership

The key bowler for the home team, Muzarabani, delivered an accurate good-length ball, which nipped back in to remove Shah for (94), and his edge was caught by the wicket-keeper Regis Chakabva in the 45th over. This ended the enthralling partnership of 181 off 208 balls.

Then, Shahidi continued his onslaught but was caught at the third-man area off Muzarabani in his next over. Two balls later, Nabi (10) also gave his wicket in an attempt to accelerate the run-rate. 

However, Rashid Khan was terrific with his boundary-hitting capabilities and provided a terrific flourish to the team. He scored 39 off 17 balls, with 19 coming from the last over, which helped Afghanistan to post 276/5 on the board. 

Zimbabwe Start on a Positive Note

The home side lost Chakabva (1) off FazalHaq Farooqui in the 3nd over. But, the partnership from debutant Kaia and captain Ervine laid a strong platform for the middle-order to continue the momentum. The duo were impressive in piercing the gaps and accumulating boundaries in every alternate over.

The all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai picked up a brilliant catch off his own bowling to dismiss Ervine for 30 off 40, and Zimbabwe stood 66/2 in the 15th over. 

Nabi steals the win for the Afghanistan team

The seasoned campaigner Nabi dismissed the talented batter Wesley Madhevere (11) in his very first ball. A few overs later, the all-rounder delivered a flighted ball, and Kaia was adjudged LBW for a well-made 39 off 78 balls. 

The other two scalps for the 37-year-old were Milton Shumba (5) and Ryan Burl (13) in the 32nd and 40th over. Nabi finished with figures of 4/34 off 10 overs. 

Although Raza played a fighting knock, he was dismissed for 67 off 78 by Rashid in the 44th over. 

The home team were all-out for 216 and lost by 60 runs. Both teams will meet on June 6 (Monday) at Harare to play the 2nd fixture of the ODI series.