Chronicle EditorMehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE started the three-match One Day International series against Afghanistan on a losing note when they lost by 60 runs at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Afghanistan posted 276/5 in 50 overs and Zimbabwe were bowled out for 216 in 50 overs.
Rahmat Shah top scored for Afghanistan with 94 off 120 balls, an effort good enough for the right hander to win the Match of the Match award. Shah was complemented by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi who made 88 from 104 balls. Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers with four wickets for 52 runs in nine overs.
Zimbabwe’s run chase got off to a terrible start when Regis Chakabva fell for one run at the beginning of the third over. Sikandar Raza top scored with 67 runs coming in to bat at number five but the rest of the batting was a huge disappointment, with 39 from opener Innocent Kaia and 30 by skipper Craig Ervine the other notable contributions with the bat for the home team.
Off spinner Mohammad Nabi was the tormentor in chief of the Zimbabwean batsmen with four wickets for 34 runs in 10 overs. Leg spinner Rashid Khan had 2/39 in 10 overs while Fazalhaq Farooqi also had the same number of wickets.
Zimbabwe will look to make amends when the two teams clash in the second ODI at the same venue tomorrow. The third and final ODI is on Thursday.
The three-matches are part of the International Cricket Council Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, the pathway for the 2023 Cricket World Cup qualification, which is crucial for Zimbabwe to bounce back and win the remaining two matches to enhance their chances of automatic qualification for next year’s tournament in India.
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