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Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe

ZIM vs AFG T20 1st T20I, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe, 2024/25 - Match Info

Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 4 wickets

player_of_the_match

Player of the match

Brian Bennett - ZIM

Match Summary

Player of the Match

Brian Bennett

ZIM - Batter

Runs

49(49)

S/R

100

144/6 (20.0 overs)

Top Batter

Top Bowler

145/6 (20.0 overs)

Top Batter

Top Bowler

Detailed Commentary

All

Wickets

4s

6s

AFG

ZIM

Right then, that is it from this game but the action has just begun in Afghanistan's tour of Zimbabwe. The 2nd T20I will be played at the same venue on Friday, December 13 and will begin at 11.30 am GMT. You can join us a lot sooner though for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Sikandar Raza, the captain of Zimbabwe gets an Award for playing his 100th T20I game, the first from Zimbabwe to do so. Starts by saying that the team needed this victory and such a win can go a long way in the changing room. Mentions that the result is not always in your control and the team tries to give it its all and goes on to applaud Tashinga Musekiwa for finishing the game and hopefully, he starts believing in his abilities more. Adds that when you have a young squad, they can lose track a bit but to come out after a few difficult games is great to see. Ends by thanking the almighty and reflects on his journey and applauds the fans for their support.

Brian Bennett is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his anchoring knock of 49 runs. Brian says that it is always nice to contribute to the team's win. Adds that he didn't start the way he wanted with the bat but just tried to trust his process. Mentions that Dion Myers is a good mate of his and the two of them just tried to keep the required rate under check.

Rashid Khan, the captain of Afghanistan says that the mindset was to go on and put on a good total on the board but were about 15 or so runs shy and came back well with the bat. Reckons that in T20 cricket once you lose so many wickets up top, it is difficult to come back. Mentions that at this level, you need to assess conditions from the get go and that's what they try to do and the wicket is a bit hard to start on, not bat on. Adds that Mohammad Nabi got them back in the game with that wicket and it's all about contributing when the team needs it.

The Presentation ceremony...

The man of the moment, Tashinga Musekiwa is now down for a chat. He says that it is an honor for him to play for Zimbabwe and the support he has got from the team is brilliant. Adds that before the game he went to see Elton Chigumbura, his mentor and thankfully he was able to keep calm. Mentions that it was difficult to start your innings on this deck and there were big boundaries on one side as well.

Afghanistan's only second loss to Zimbabwe and it has come in a heart-breaking fashion as well. The game went up and down and Afghanistan seemed in control of things in the chase but that one over from Naveen-ul-Haq that had so many extras in it cost them dearly even after he picked up a crucial wicket in that over. Rashid Khan wasn't at his lethal best but managed to pick up a couple of wickets in his final over but without Fazalhaq Farooqi, and with Mujeeb Ur Rahman just returning from a long injury, their bowling doesn't have the same bite to it.

Zimbabwe were skeptical to begin with in the run chase and Brian Bennett simply wasn't able to get his timing right but managed to hang on. Dion Myers was the one who took the game to the Afghan bowlers and his partnership with Bennett got Zimbabwe going. However, they went from 103/2 to 119/5 in a flash but those who came in managed to get away a boundary or two. Still, they needed a few hits in the final couple of overs and Tashinga Musekiwa ensured his side got just that and couple with the running between the wickets, it was a job well done in the end.

Insane scenes here at the Harare Sports Club as Zimbabwe notch up a famous win over Afghanistan, their first against the opposition since 2019 and what a way to get the series underway. Zimbabwe had done well to keep Afghanistan 150 runs but it could have been even less. Richard Ngarava was the enforcer early on for Zimbabwe but the partnership between Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat really turned things around in that first innings. However, it wasn't enough as Tashinga Musekiwa's heroics at the death got the hosts the win.

145/6 (20.0)

49 (49)

32 (29)

3/33 (4)

2/26 (4)

Over 20

1

2

0

2

2

4

Tashinga Musekiwa*

16 (13)

Wellington Masakadza

6 (2)

Azmatullah Omarzai

0/34 (4)

ZIM

145/6

11 needed off the final over and it will be Azmatullah Omarzai to bowl it. Can he defend 10 runs for his side?

Over 19

2

4

W

1

2

1

Wellington Masakadza*

6 (2)

Tashinga Musekiwa

5 (7)

Naveen-ul-Haq

3/33 (4)

ZIM

134/6

Wellington Masakadza is the new batter in.

player

OUT

W Madhevere

4 (7)

c R Khan b Naveen

Wkt

#6

4s/6s

0 / 0

SR

57.14

It seems that throw from the deep has caught Naveen-ul-Haq on the fingertips and his bowling hand is stinging a bit. The physio is out to apply some magic spray and Naveen is ready to go again.

Naveen-ul-Haq is back on to bowl the crucial penultimate over.

Over 18

1

1lb

1

0

1

0

Wessly Madhevere*

3 (5)

Tashinga Musekiwa

2 (5)

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

0/23 (4)

ZIM

124/5

Over 17

1

0

W

wd

1

0

W

Tashinga Musekiwa*

1 (2)

Wessly Madhevere

1 (2)

Rashid Khan

2/26 (4)

ZIM

120/5

player

OUT

R Burl

10 (7)

c A Omarzai b R Khan

Wkt

#5

4s/6s

0 / 1

SR

142.85

Match Details

Date & Time:

11th Dec 2024, 5:00 PM

Match Number:

1st T20I

Match Results:

ZIM Won By 4 wickets

Head to Head

Just the right stats to help you determine which team statistically has the upper hand

AFG vs ZIM

*Last 3 years

6

No. of Matches

5

AFG

1

ZIM

0

Tie

Last Overs

over 20

4

2

2

0

2

1

Runs 11

over 19

1

2

1

W

4

2

Runs 10

over 18

0

1

0

1

1

1

Runs 4

over 17

W

0

1

wd

W

0

1

Runs 3

over 16

1

1

6

0

1

1

Runs 10

Venue/Pitch Details

Harare Sports Club, Harare

Bowling Friendly

Toss Agnostic

Neutral

156

1st Batting Average

166

Highest Score Chased

17

No. of Matches

Won by team

1st Batting

47%

2nd Batting

53%

Wicket Split

Pacer

54.33% | 113W

Spin

45.67% | 95W

Match Officals

Umpire:

Iknow Chabi (ZIM), Percival Sizara (ZIM)

Third Umpire:

Langton Rusere (ZIM)

Match Referee:

Andy Pycroft (ZIM)