adminMehluli Sibanda in BULAWAYO
ZIMBABWE recorded their second win in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier with an astonishing last over triumph over Afghanistan, shutting out their arch-rivals by two runs at Queens Sports Club yesterday. There were some unbelievable scenes and even a pitch invasion, scenes only witnessed in local football matches, as fans could not control their excitement when left-arm seamer Brian Vitori had Shahpur Zadran caught behind by Brendan Taylor to hand Zimbabwe what at some stage looked like an impossible victory.
Pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani and off-spinner Sikandar Raza were exceptional for Zimbabwe with ball in hand with their bowling turning things around for the host nation.
Zimbabwe are second on the log with four points, the same as Scotland who are on top because of a superior net run rate.
The Scots, who floored Afghanistan by seven wickets at Bulawayo Athletic Club last Sunday saw off Hong Kong by six wickets at the same venue yesterday.
Raza was for the second time in a row the man-of-the-match for his 60 runs and three wickets.
Raza put on 98 runs for the fifth wicket with highest run scorer Taylor who made 89 as Zimbabwe, who won the toss and opted to bat were bundled out for 196 in 43 overs.
Half centuries by Rahmat Shah and Mohammad Nabi had Afghanistan poised for their first victory of the tournament until Muzarabani and Raza came to Zimbabwe’s rescue.
Scores:
Zimbabwe 196 (Taylor 89, Raza 60, Khan 3/38, Rahman 3/49, Zadran 2/17) beat Afghanistan 194 (Shah 69, Nabi 51, Muzarabani 4/47, Raza 3/40, Vitori 2/31) by two runs.
Online Reporter