Poor batting costs Zim

IT’S ALL GLOOMY . . . Zimbabwe’s stand-out batsman Sikandar Raza (left) and batting coach Andy Waller address the media in Bulawayo yesterday after the Chevrons fell in their ODI tie against Afghanistan. — zimcricket

Mehluli Sibanda in BULAWAYO
A POOR batting display by Zimbabwe allowed Afghanistan to level the five-match One Day International cricket series after the visitors won the fourth match by three wickets, with 20 balls to spare, at Queens here yesterday. The result means that the series is now tied at 2-2 with the last ODI on at the same venue. Zimbabwe posted just 184-8, on a spinner-friendly

track, thanks to a fighting 86 from 114 deliveries from Sikandar Raza.

In response, Afghanistan, aided by 80 off 81 balls from opener Mohammad Shahzad, made 185-7 in 46.4 overs to romp to victory. Having won the toss for the first time in this series, Zimbabwe never recovered from losing early wickets. They found themselves two down with just 13 runs on the board, both batsmen dismissed by Dawlat Zadran.

Richmond Mutumbami was trapped lbw for five and Craig Ervine departed for one run, caught behind by Shahzad. Chamunorwa Chibhabha and Sean Williams brought stability to the Zimbabwe innings but their partnership yielded 30 runs. It became worse for Zimbabwe when they were four down with 45 on the board, Chibhabha trapped in front for 26.

Elton Chigumbura was run out by Shafiquillah Shafaq for 15 when he hesitated to go for a single which was called by Raza. Zimbabwe were soon 82-6, Tinotenda Mutombodzi out to leg spinner Rashid Khan, stumped by Shahzad for four runs. Just to show how much Zimbabwe struggled, they only reached 100 runs in the 35th over.

Raza reached his half century from 74 deliveries, an innings made up of four fours and one six. He was involved in a 65-run stand for the seventh wicket with Luke Jongwe, brought to an end by Mohammad Nabi who had Jongwe caught in the deep by Samiullah Shenwari.

Raza fell to Dawlat Zadran in the last over, also snared in the deep by Shenwari. Zadran finished with 3-37 in nine overs while Khan took 2-37 in 10 overs. Requiring 3.7 runs per over, Afghanistan never looked under any threat with their opening pair of Noor Ali Zadran and Shahzad putting on 72.

Left arm spinner Tendai Chisoro struck when he had Zadran taken at point by Chigumbura. Shahzad’s 50 came off 64 balls with four fours and one six as Afghanistan moved closer to their target.

Further wickets by Chisoro and Jongwe brought a bit of hope for Zimbabwe. It got tense right at the end but Khan slammed the fourth ball of the 47th over to secure the victory for his team. Chisoro finished with 3-38 runs in 10 overs, Williams picked up 2-31 from 8.4 overs while Jongwe and Wellington Masakadza took one wicket apiece.