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Bulawayo: A maiden One-Day International century by Mohammad Nabi steered Afghanistan to a series-levelling victory over Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.
After Nabi's 121-ball 116 helped Afghanistan post 271 for 6, Aftab Alam, Dawlat Zadran and Samiullah Shenwari got two wickets each and helped the visitor skittle the home side for 213 in 46.4 overs and secure a 58-run victory, leaving the five-match series square at 1-1.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan lost Mohammad Shahzad in the fifth over when the opener top-edged Tinashe Panyangara to be caught behind the wicket. The dismissal, however, was followed by a 133-run partnership for the second wicket between Nabi and Noor Ali Zadran, who made 60.
Zadran played the role of the sheet anchor, Nabi remained positive, striking two sixes on his way to a half-century.
Noor Ali mistimed a lofted shot off leg-spinner Tinotenda Mutombodzi to mid-on in the 33rd over. Mutombodzi struck again in his next over to remove Nawroz Mangal but Asghar Stanikzai, Afghanistan's captain, joined Nabi to regain the momentum. Stanikzai made a 36-ball 39 with three boundaries and put on 55 for the fourth wicket to take Afghanistan to 220 in the 43rd over.
Nabi remained busy, smashing powerful sixes, and reached his century with a single to fine-leg off Tendai Chisoro. Nabi, promoted to No. 3, hit three fours and six sixes before falling in the 44th over, holing out to long-on, but Samiullah Shenwari’s 20 not out off 16 balls took Afghanistan past 270.
A number of Zimbabwe batsmen got starts but none converted them into big knocks. The chase started on the wrong note when Chamu Chibhabha fell to Dawlat Zadran in the fourth over. Craig Ervine steadied the innings, being involved in stands of 48 and 52 for the second and third wickets with Richmond Mutumbami (35) and Mutombodzi (27) respectively.
However, Zimbabwe lost its way in the middle overs when Mutombodzi and Ervine fell in successive overs, allowing Afghanistan's spinners to take control.
Mutombodzi was dismissed in the 26th over, lofting left-arm spinner Amir Hamza to long-off and Ervine followed two balls later, chipping a return catch to Shenwari's leg-spin.
Shenwari struck again two overs later, getting through the defence of Sikandar Raza to leave Zimbabwe wobbling at 123 for 5. A 61-run stand for the seventh wicket between Elton Chigumbura (25 off 54) and Luke Jongwe (46 off 33) gave Zimbabwe hope, but the mounting required rate proved too much for the lower order to handle.
Brief scores
Afghanistan - 271/6 (Mohammad Nabi 116, Noor Ali Zadran 60)
Zimbabwe - 213 (Jongwe 46)
Result - Afghanistan won by 58 runs
MOM - Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
