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Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran fire in tandem as Afghanistan rout Zimbabwe 3-0

Aakash Saini

Afghanistan players celebrating a wicket in third T20I [Source: @ACBofficials/x]Afghanistan players celebrating a wicket in third T20I [Source: @ACBofficials/x]

Afghanistan edged out Zimbabwe in the third T20I to clinch the three-match T20I series 3-0. Both opening batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran plundered majestic half-centuries before bowlers collectively restricted hosts Zimbabwe within nine runs short of their target.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of the third T20I of the three-match series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, as it panned out at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Sunday, November 2.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah punish ZIM as Afghanistan mount 210

Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran staged a record 159-run partnership in just 15.4 overs, with both cricketers firing out sparkling half-centuries. Captain Zadran smeared seven boundaries in his 49-ball knock of 60, while a rampaging Gurbaz struck an enterprising 92 from 48 balls with eight fours and five huge sixes.

Sediqullah Atal at number three also exploded with 35* from just 15 balls to turbo-charge Afghanistan to a dauting 210-3 in 20 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat first. For Afghanistan, Brad Evans unfurled the spell of the high-scoring innings with figures of 2-33 from his four overs.

Zimbabwe falls short despite Sikandar Raza and Brian Bennett heroics

Zimbabwe lost two early wickets in the form of Dion Myers and Brendon Taylor early in the innings before opener Brian Bennett and captain Sikandar Raza crafted a counterattacking 85-run partnership. Bennett clubbed 47 off 31 balls with three boundaries and two sixes, and captain Raza hammered down the lone half-century of the innings with his cracking 29-ball 51.

Despite their best efforts, Zimbabwe folded up for just 201 to fall nine runs short of their target, considering the hosts received little-to-no assistance from the rest of their line-up. Ryan Burl did provide some entertainment towards the end with a 15-ball 37, but two wickets each from Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad and a three-fer from Abdollah Ahmadzai ensured Afghanistan secured the series 3-0.