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ZIM vs AFG 2nd T20I Highlights: Rashid, Naveen And Rasooli Help Afghanistan Draw Level In The Series

Aakash Saini

Afghanistan level series in Harare [Source: @ACBofficials/x]Afghanistan level series in Harare [Source: @ACBofficials/x]

Afghanistan bounced back in the second T20I against Zimbabwe with a convincing win at the Harare Sports Club on December 13. Earlier this week, the visitors had lost their three-match series opener at the same venue in a last-ball thriller.

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

ZIM vs AFG Highlights: Muzarabani, Gwandu Seize Early Advantage For Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean fast bowler Trevor Gwandu yielded the opening breakthrough for his team with the prized scalp of attacking Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 11. Lanky paceman Blessing Muzarabani also dismissed fellow Afghanistan opening batter Sediqullah Atal, shortly after the easy runout of Zubaid Akbari as the visitors crashed to 33-3 in 4.3 overs.

ZIM vs AFG Highlights: Darwish Rasooli Crafts 58 To Lead Afghanistan Recovery

Darwish Rasooli at number four counterattacked for Afghanistan with a swift 53-run partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai (28 off 23) for the fourth wicket until the latter was holed out by Brian Bennett off Ryan Burl.

Rasooli, however, raged on with six boundaries and a six in his 42-ball knock of 58 runs to take Afghanistan to a competitive 153-6 from 20 overs. Gulbadin Naib provided the death-overs impetus with an attacking 21-ball 26* during his 52-run partnership with the half-centurion.

For Zimbabwe, Ryan Burl (2-16) and Trevor Gwandu (2-29) picked up two wickets each in the innings.

ZIM vs AFG Highlights: Mujeeb Ur Rahman Jolts Zimbabwean Top-Order

Chasing 154, Zimbabwe opener Tadiwanashe Marumani made his way back to the sheds for just five after mistiming a short ball from Naveen-ul-Haq in the third over. Unable to lead Zimbabwe to recovery, Dion Myers and Wessly Madhevere were also dismissed in quick succession for just four runs each to Azmatullah Omarzai and Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman respectively.

Mujeeb further knocked over Zimbabwe’s well-set opener Brian Bennett for a near run-a-ball 27 while Ryan Burl was trapped in front by Rashid Khan as the hosts reached 57-5 around the halfway stage of the innings.

ZIM vs AFG Highlights: Rashid, Naveen Claim Three Each To Wrap Up ZIM Innings

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza held his team’s faltering innings together for a while with a fighting 35 from 30 balls in the middle overs. However, Raza failed to keep up with the asking rate amidst tumbling wickets from the other end, and a miscue off Naveen-ul-Haq (3-19) in the 17th over pretty much summed up Zimbabwe’s disappointing day out at Harare.

Fareed Ahmad (1-23) and Rashid Khan (3-20) scythed through the remainder of Zimbabwe’s lower-half as Afghanistan secured a huge 50-run win to level the three-match series with a game to spare.