Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza scored a brilliant fighting century but the effort was not enough as the Chevrons lost another cricket challenge to Afghanistan in the ongoing T20I series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium last night.
The Chevrons were defeated by 19 runs, to go down 2-0 in the three-match T20I series which got underway on Tuesday after the One-Day Triangular Series that also featured Bangladesh in the United Arab Emirates.
Raza finished unbeaten on 106 runs as Zimbabwe made Afghanistan sweat for their victory.
Set a mammoth 221/7 after they sent the Afghans to bat first, Raza was at the centre of the chase with his second T20I century, but the target proved daunting as Zimbabwe ended their innings at 202/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
In retrospect, Zimbabwe will also have themselves to blame for failing to seize the opportunity after they had their opponents teetering in the power-play overs.
Raza blamed complacency from his team after they allowed Afghanistan to recover from 4/5 and record a 200-plus total, thanks to an impressive knock from Azmatullah Ormazai, who top-scored with 116 runs, and a valuable half ton from Ahmad Ahmadzai.
The chase was always going to be difficult from the onset. But Raza found support from debutant Tafadzwa Tsiga, who also finished unbeaten on 31 from 23 balls. Raza struck five boundaries and an incredible nine sixes.
“When you are chasing 222, it was about trying to control my emotions,” said Raza.
“It hurt me how we conducted ourselves in the first innings. Up until the last two overs, we backed ourselves to win the game.
“I want to say thank you to the Zimbabwe fans, who come out to support us wherever we go. They have been loyal fans. The toughest part to swallow for me was the complacency from our boys, which is something I will address in the dressing room,” said Raza.
For yesterday’s game, Zimbabwe made three changes, handing T20I debuts to Tsiga and Vincent Masekesa, while Afghanistan brought in Fareed Ahmad and Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Blessing Muzarabani, who missed the opening game after failing to recover from a niggle, remained outside the XI, while Newman Nyamhuri was also rested.
Raza, for the second time in the series, won the toss and sent Afghanistan in to bat first. Afghanistan were in big trouble when they lost four wickets for five runs at some point in the power-play overs.
But Ormazai rescued the home side with his debut T20I ton, after hitting five fours and 12 sixes.
Kundai Matigimu was given a starting place and took two wickets. Brad Evans also finished with two wickets, while there was a wicket each for Vincent Masekesa, Ernest Masuku and Raza.
The teams will meet for the third T20I on Sunday, which has now been reduced to a dead rubber as Afghanistan continue to dominate the meetings between the two rivals. They have won eight straight T20I series against none from Zimbabwe.
