Sharjah: Rashid Khan delivered an impressive all-round performance as Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by 37 runs in the opening match of their three-game T20 International series in Sharjah, taking an early lead in the contest.
After being reduced to 66 for five, Afghanistan recovered to post 177, with aggressive contributions from Izaz Ahmadzai and Rashid proving crucial. Zimbabwe were subsequently bowled out for 140 in 19.1 overs, unable to sustain their chase of 178.
Afghanistan’s recovery began with Shahidullah Kamal, who scored 46 off 42 balls to stabilise the innings. Ahmadzai then shifted the momentum with a blistering 52 from just 22 deliveries, while Rashid struck 30 off 10 balls to provide a powerful finish. Rahmanullah Gurbaz contributed 18 as Afghanistan reached a competitive total.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza had won the toss and elected to bowl, and his team initially capitalised on the decision. Newman Nyamhuri led the bowling attack with four wickets, while Brad Evans and Ernest Masuku claimed two each. However, Afghanistan’s late acceleration prevented Zimbabwe from restricting them to a modest score.
In reply, Zimbabwe struggled to build the partnerships needed to keep the required run rate under control. Ryan Burl top-scored with 32, followed by Innocent Kaia’s 24. Raza and Wesley Madhevere contributed 17 runs apiece, while Brian Bennett made 13. The absence of a substantial innings ultimately undermined the chase.
Fazalhaq Farooqi spearheaded Afghanistan’s bowling effort with three wickets. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mujeeb Ur Rahman took two wickets each, while Rashid also claimed two. Shahidullah Kamal picked up one wicket as Afghanistan maintained pressure throughout the innings.
Rashid’s contributions with both bat and ball earned him the Player of the Match award. His explosive late hitting helped Afghanistan recover from their early collapse, while his wickets strengthened the team’s grip on the contest.
The victory gave Afghanistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, leaving Zimbabwe needing a stronger performance in the next encounter to level the contest.
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