Shahidi lauds team performance after dominating win over Zimbabwe

Yesterday, Afghanistan registered an emphatic victory over Zimbabwe in the first ODI of the 3-match series at Harare. After being asked to bat first, Afghanistan posted a respectable total of 276 on the board, courtesy of two fine half-centuries by Rahmat Shah and the skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi. In reply, Zimbabwe never seemed to be in control during the chase and was finally bowled out for mere 216 runs, thereby losing the game comprehensively by a margin of 60 runs. 

In the post-match presentation, the Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi heaped praises on his players for their brilliant efforts on the field by terming the team's performance as a fantastic one. 

The stylish southpaw further stressed that it was challenging to bat on the new pitch as it offered considerable seam movement to the fast bowlers early in the morning. Therefore, as the Logar-born put it, he and Rahmat shah, being two experienced seniors, decided to share the responsibility of guiding Afghanistan's innings by batting till the end, which worked wonders for the visitors. 

"It was a fantastic performance by the boys", Shahidi said. "The pitch was difficult in the morning, and the ball was seaming. My partnership with Rahmat Shah was important, and we told each other that we need to take it to the end as seniors", he further added. 

Although Afghanistan emerged victorious in the game, they took more than three and a half hours to bowl their full quota of fifty overs despite having three spinners in the playing XI. Therefore, Shahidi asked for improvement in the over rate from his bowlers. 

Further, the Afghanistan captain expressed his immense satisfaction in obtaining ten crucial points after the win, as it helped them climb to the third spot in the ODI super league's points table. 

"We'll try in the next match to improve our over-rate. Ten points were important for us", the 27-year-old concluded.