New Delhi: Zimbabwe defeated Afghanistan by 4 wickets in the first T20I at the Harare Sports Club on December 11, Wednesday. The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. Brian Bennett and Ngarava shined for Zimbabwe as Mohammed Nabi’s all-round performance went in vain.
The hosts needed 11 runs in the last over and Tashinga Musekiwa smashed a boundary on the first ball. He held his nerve on the next five deliveries and took Zimbabwe over the line in the opening match of the series.
RESULT | ZIMBABWE WON BY 4 WICKETS 🚨
Naveen Ul Haq (3/33) and the skipper Rashid Khan (2/26) put on a strong bowling effort, but it wasn’t meant to be as the hosts, Zimbabwe, took the first T20I home by 4 wickets. 👍#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/ZEwxfMCAnP
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 11, 2024
Karim Janat, Mohammed Nabi help Afghanistan post 144 runs
Afghanistan got off to a poor start after opting to bat first as Ngarava dismissed Gurbaz on a duck in the first over. Hazratullah Zazai played a few aggressive shots but was removed by Muzarabani on 20 runs. Trevor Gwandu and Ngarava dismissed Sediqullah Atal and Mohammad Ishaq cheaply.
Karim Janat and Mohammed Nabi stitched a crucial 79-run partnership for the sixth wicket and helped Afghanistan post a decent total on the scoreboard. Nabi scored 44 runs off 27 balls while Janat scored an unbeaten 54 runs off 49 balls. Ngarava took 3 wickets while Muzarabani, Trevor and Masakadza also picked up one wicket each.
Bennett, Myers and Musekiwa shine in run-chase for Zimbabwe
Naveen-ul-Haq dismissed Marumani on 9 runs in the third over of the run-chase. Myers and Bennett forged a crucial 75-run partnership for the second wicket. Zimbabwe’s middle-order failed to score runs as Rashid and Naveen put pressure on the hosts but Musekiwa last-over heroics helped them to beat Afghanistan by 4 wickets. The second T20I of the series will be played at the same venue on December 13
Zimbabwe defeated Afghanistan by 4 wickets in the first T20I at the Harare Sports Club on December 11, Wednesday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
