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ZIMBABWE looks set end their tour against Afghanistan empty handed, as a win in today’s second and final Twenty20 encounter will only see the Chevrons tie the two-match series.
After Afghanistan had taken the One-day International series 3-2, dumping Zimbabwe out of the top 10 on the ICC ODI rankings, a lot was riding on Friday night’s opening T20 encounter.
Both sides were far from their best on the field, and while that didn’t translate into a high standard of cricket, it made for an entertaining clash nonetheless.
The end result was a last-ball finish, with two metres and a fine low catch by Gulbadin Naib separating both sides as Afghanistan held their nerve to beat Zimbabwe by five runs in the first T20 in Sharjah.
The catch wasn’t Naib’s only contribution in the match.
His cameo of 37 and a 52-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Nabi gave Afghanistan the impetus they needed after a middle order slump orchestrated by Graeme Cremer, who picked up three wickets.
Afghanistan blasted 66 off the last five overs to finish with 187/7.
It nearly didn’t prove enough.
With 60 needed off the last five overs, Zimbabwe were in with a slim chance as Malcolm Waller swung his way to more runs in this innings alone than he had done in the preceding ODI series, while Elton Chigumbura found his hitting range to bring it down to 21 off the last over.
Asghar Stanikzai’s decision to keep his premier pacer Dawlat Zadran worked, but by only just.
His end figures of 3/32 were far more flattering in the overall context, but the scorecard wouldn’t reveal how he nearly finished second-best on the night.
In the end, Zimbabwe could only muster 182/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
The two teams meet again today, with the hosts hoping to cement their dominance with a series whitewash, while Zimbabwe aim to salvage dignity with a win.
It doesn’t help their cause that the Chevrons have literally played second-best for the larger portion of this tour.
— Cricinfo/Sport Reporter
Online Reporter