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Harare: Afghanistan made a mockery of the series decider against Zimbabwe by thrashing the hosts by 106 runs (D/L method) and seal the five-match ODI series 3-2.
It was a clinical performance by the same bunch of men who were precarious in the previous two encounters and managed to keep the series alive despite leading 2-0 after the first two games.
With another series win, Afghanistan maintained their dominant record against the low-lying hosts as they have never conceded a series against the African nation.
Opting to bat first, openers Mohammad Shahzad and Noor Ali Zadran took their side to a decent start. They were striking the ball at 6 per over before Shahzad went for a run-a-ball 20.
Noor Ali was joined by Gulbadin Naib, whose sudden promotion must have been a well planned strategy to provide more solidity to the middle order by pushing Rahmat Shah a position down. Afghanistan have been guilty of throwing their wickets in the middle overs and must have eyed to rectify this flaw.
Naib and Zadran struck a 23-run stand for the second wicket before the former went for 6. Richard Ngarava took the initial breakthroughs.
Meanwhile Tendai Chatara, the leading wicket-taker of the series, remained wicketless. After Naib, Rahmat and Zadran played steadily to take the innings forward.
Zadran, missing the previous ODI, looked fluent for his 46. Asghar Stanikzai came in at No. 5 and played the middle overs without accelerating needlessly along with Rahmat.
What worked in Afghanistan’s favour was that they bought time in the middle, but they failed to convert starts into anything significant. As a matter of fact, there was no 50-run stand for the visitors. Rahmat was their main weapon, but he went after notching up his fifty.
The lower order continued to crumble as Mohammad Nabi held his end. His 48 coupled with effective cameos from Rashid Khan and Dawlat Zadran steered their side past the 250-run mark.
The second innings kicked off after a long break due to rain. There was some heavy rain witnessed at Harare Sports Club, Harare and it looked like there was not going to be any further action.
Nonetheless, the sun came out after a long time after which groundsmen had lots to do to dry the outfields. After much delay, the game was reduced to 22 overs a side with the total being 161 for the hosts.
Every bowler had 5 overs limitation under their belt. What followed was complete harakiri as Zimbabwean wickets fell like nine pins.
There was no planning whatsoever in the chase as they folded for 54. This is their lowest total in ODIs. Peter Moor and Solomon Mire were expected to provide some fight but both went trying to accelerate much early in the innings.
Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Tarisai Musakanda and Ryan Burl went for single digits. Afghanistan bowlers bowled in tight lines and followed the batsmen closely. They bowled close to the pads and at the stumps.
Brief scores
Afghanistan - 253 for 9 (Rahmat Shah 50, Mpofu 3-46)
Zimbabwe - 54 (target 161) (Mohammad Nabi 3-14, Hamza 3-20)
Result - Afghanistan won by 106 runs (D/L method)
