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Rashid Khan and Mujeeb strangulate Zimbabwe as Afghanistan clinch series in dominating fashion

Aakash Saini

Rashid Khan celebrating a wicket with teammates [Source: @ACBofficials/x]Rashid Khan celebrating a wicket with teammates [Source: @ACBofficials/x]

Visiting spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman spun a web around hosts Zimbabwe to steer Afghanistan to an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match T20I series. Opening batter Ibrahim Zadran also compiled a calculated half-century to headline Afghanistan’s run-chase.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of the second T20I of the three-match series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, as it panned out at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Friday, October 31.

Rashid Khan and Mujeeb restrict Zimbabwe to 125

Zimbabwe won the toss, batted first, and bundled out for just 125 in 19.3 overs. Afghanistan cricketers Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman got the ball spinning as the two ace spinners strangulated Zimbabwe’s entire line-up by picking up five big wickets between them. Captain Rashid Khan unfurled the spell of the innings with figures of 3-9 from his three overs, which included the prized scalp of Sikandar Raza. Mujeeb wrecked Zimbabwe’s top order while Abdollah Ahmadzai snapped Ryan Burl and number 10 Wellington Masakadza to bag 2-28.

For Zimbabwe, only captain Sikandar Raza left any notable contribution through his fighting 32-ball knock of 37 runs.

Ibrahim Zadran spotlights Afghanistan’s easy chase

Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a cracking 16 early in the innings before getting toppled by Brad Evans inside the powerplay. Sediqullah Atal and Darwish Rasooli failed to maximize their confident starts as the two cricketers were dismissed by Wellington Masakadza and Evans respectively.

Opening batter Ibrahim Zadran, on the other hand, remained unbeaten till the end to score 57* from 51 balls with seven elegant boundaries. He notched up the winning runs for Afghanistan in 18 overs alongside fellow unbeaten Azmatullah Omarzai (25* off 13) with seven wickets to spare.