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Bulawayo: Afghanistan made history on Saturday when they became the first Associate nation to defeat a Test-playing country in a one-day series with a comprehensive 73-run win over Zimbabwe.
The victory gave Afghanistan a 3-2 series win after the two sides had shared the first four games at the Queen's Sports Club.
Chasing a 246-run winning target, Zimbabwe were skittled out for 172 in the 45th over despite Sean Williams making a fine 102 off 124 balls with three boundaries and four sixes.
Fast bowler Dawlat Zadran finished with a career best 4-22 in his 10 overs.
Earlier, opener Noor Ali Zadran made 54 and Mohammad Nabi, who hit a maiden century in the second match of the series, chipped in with 53 as Afghanistan reached 245-9 in their 50 overs.
Asked to bat, Afghanistan posted 245 for 9 and then restricted Zimbabwe to 172 all out in 44.1 overs, despite a fighting 124-ball 102 from Sean Williams.
Mohammad Shahzad gave Afghanistan a promising start, hammering 26 off 22 in an opening stand of 35 with Noor Ali Zadran (54). The latter was happy playing second fiddle as Shahzad went about his business before he was caught at midwicket by Tinotenda Mutombodzi off Wellington Masakadza. Masakadza was Zimbabwe’s best bowler with 3 for 31.
Noor Ali, who has been in good touch in this series, then added 97 runs for the second wicket with Mohammad Nabi (53). The duo took the team past 100 and set a solid platform for a late onslaught. However, Noor Ali’s patient 88-ball innings was cut short when he was bowled by Sikandar Raza in the 28th over.
Dawlat (4 for 22) rocked the top order, accounting for Chibhabha (7) and Richmond Mutumbami (2). There was no respite from the other end as Ashraf nipped out Craig Ervine for 1.
In need of a partnership, Zimbabwe’s hopes rested on Williams and Raza (2), the two seasoned campaigners. But Raza was stumped trying to tonk Amir Hamza out of the park.
Williams and Elton Chigubura (14), the captain, then resisted for close to 12 overs to add 52 runs to keep the team afloat. Williams kept fighting and got to his maiden ODI century in the 43rd over when he drove Nabi down the ground for a single.
Zimbabwe needed 112 runs in the last 15 overs and had just four wickets in hand but eventually fell short to concede the match and the series.
Brief scores
Afghanistan - 245 for 9 (Noor Ali 54, Nabi 53, Masakadza 3-31)
Zimbabwe - 172 (Williams 102, Dawlat 4-22)
Result - Afghanistan won by 73 runs
MOM - Dawlat Zadran (Afghanistan) and SC Williams (Zimbabwe)
Player of the series - Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
