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Harare: Afghanistan, having already taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match One-Day International series against Zimbabwe, will look to keep up the good work on Sunday (February 18) when the two sides meet again at the Harare Sports Club.
Azghar Stanikzai led from the front with a half-century as his men beat the home side in a rain-truncated game on Thursday after Zimbabwe lost Ryan Burl just before the rain arrived to lose the match by 12 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.
After Afghanistan was bowled to 215, Zimbabwe reached 99 for 3 in 27 overs, still ahead of its D/L par score by one run. But just then, Burl, the debutant left-hand batsman, was trapped lbw by Rashid Khan, the legspinner, off the first ball of the 28th over. Only one more delivery was possible in the entire match and Zimbabwe ended on 99 for 4 after 27.2 overs to hand Afghanistan victory.
Graeme Cremer was the best bowler for Zimbabwe, picking up 3 for 46 in the first match, and Afghanistan would be wary of the wily legspinner who is expected to lead the spin attack once again, with the support of Sikander Raza's part-time offspin.
Tendai Chatara, Richard Ngavara, Chris Mpofu and Solomon Mire will make up the home side's pace unit. But more than the bowlers, Zimbabwe would be concerned about its batsmen at the top of the order, namely Mire, Raza, Peter Moor, and Craig Ervine. Only Ervine looked comfortable against Afghanistan's bowling in the first match, with the remaining three batsmen contributing an aggregate of just 32 runs.
Stanikzai used as many as six bowlers in the first half of the innings, with four of them -- Amir Hamza, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan -- bagging one wicket each.
While Afghanistan, ranked tenth in the ICC ODI rankings, has been making steady progress with good performances in the international arena of late, Zimbabwe has been stuck at No. 11 for a while, winning only one out of its previous nine matches in the 50-over format.
Rain and thunderstorms feature in the forecast for Sunday too. Whether that has a bearing on the match, only time will tell.
Teams from
Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer (capt), Peter Moor, Ryan Burl, Tarisai Musakanda, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Wellington Masakadza, Donaldo Tiripano, Tendai Chatara, Christopher Mpofu, Nathan Waller, Craig Ervine, Solomon Mire, Carl Mumbai, Richard Ngarava.
Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Ihsanullah Janat, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shaheedi, Samiullah Shenwari, Najeebullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Kareem Janat, Dawlat Zadran, Farid Ahmad, Aftab Alam.
Match facts
Sunday February 19, 2017
Start time 0930 local (0730 GMT)
