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ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Highlights: Afghanistan Stunned As Bennett, Ngarava Take Zimbabwe 1-0 Up

Aakash Saini

Zimbabwe won a last-ball thriller over Afghanistan [Source: @ZimCricketv/x]Zimbabwe won a last-ball thriller over Afghanistan [Source: @ZimCricketv/x]

Zimbabwe won a last-ball thriller over the visiting Afghanistan team to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club. Tashinga Musekiwa notched up the winning runs for the hosts in a topsy-turvy final over bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai.

Here’s the timeline of how ZIM vs AFG panned out in Harare:

ZIM vs AFG Highlights: Zimbabwe Wreck Afghanistan Top-Order

Zimbabwe fast bowler Richard Ngarava picked up the early wickets of Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck and number four Mohammad Ishaq for just a single within his opening spell. Ngarava’s new ball partner Blessing Muzarabani also curtailed Hazratullah Zazai’s threatening knock at 20 in the final powerplay.

Trevor Gwandu and Wellington Masakadza dismissed Sediqullah Atal (3 off 5) and Azmatullah Omarzai (13 off 12) respectively as Afghanistan crashed to 58-5 at the halfway stage of the innings.

ZIM vs AFG Highlights: Karim Janat 54*, Nabi’s 44 Takes AFG To 144

Tottering at 58-5, middle-order batters Karim Janat and Mohammad Nabi lifted Afghanistan to a competitive 144-6 by forming a counterattacking 79-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Janat top-scored in the innings with a well-crafted 54* from 49 balls, while Nabi blasted five boundaries and a six in his swift 27-ball 44.

After his opening burst, Richard Ngarava returned to snap a rampaging Mohammad Nabi in the penultimate over to claim figures of 3-28 from four overs.

ZIM vs AFG Highlights: Bennett, Myers Lead Zimbabwe’s Early Response

Following the dismissal of opener Tadiwanashe Marumani to Naveen-ul-Haq, Brian Bennett (49 off 49) and number three batter Dion Myers compounded 75 runs for the second wicket from just 62 balls to lead Zimbabwe’s early response in the run-chase.

Myers himself listed 32 of those runs from 29 balls with a couple of boundaries and a six until he nicked one towards Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq off Mohammad Nabi at 86-2 in 13.2 overs.

ZIM vs AFG Highlights: Musekiwa Survives Backend Collapse To Steer ZIM Home

Cruising at 86-1, Mohammad Nabi landed the all-important breakthrough for the tourists with the wicket of Dion Myers. Afghanistan paceman Naveen-ul-Haq and spin wizard Rashid Khan capitalized over their newfound momentum with four more wickets to trigger a colossal middle-order collapse within the Zimbabwe camp.

Naveen dismissed Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhevere to claim figures of 3-33, while captain Rashid bewildered Brian Bennett and Ryan Burl to finish with 2-26 from four overs. Shortly after the Zimbabweans were reduced to 128-6, number seven Tashinga Musekiwa came up clutch for the hosts in a tight chase, at a time when they required 11 runs from the final six deliveries.

Musekiwa played his hand with an unbeaten 16 to take Zimbabwe to a last-ball win alongside Wellington Masakadza (6* off 2).