HARARE – Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 21 runs on Sunday in the second tie to win the three-match T20I series following the Asian side’s whitewash victory in the one-day internationals contest.
Pace bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi took 1-19 and was named man-of-the-match for his economic bowling at Harare Sports Club, they key man in restricting Zimbabwe to 149-7 after Afghanistan batted first and made 170-5 in its allotted 20 overs.
Najibullah Zadran top-scored for Afghanistan with 57 runs while captain Mohammad Nabi notched up 43.
Zadran looked comfortable on the crease in his innings, rotating the striker well, cracking six fours and one six after facing 46 balls.
In response, Zimbabwe opener Innocent Kaia scored a half-century (54) with Sikandar Raza being dismissed for 41 by star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, as the host came short in the end.
“It is good that we won the series,” Afghanistan skipper Nabi told reporters.
“We were just looking forward to the next game and the World Cup, for those tournaments we want to prepare very well. The Zimbabwean guys batted very well, especially Raza and Kaia. When Rashid took the Raza wicket, that was the most important wicket for us, the game changed.”
Afghanistan won the ODI series 3-0 and will win every match on tour if it takes the last T20 tie on Tuesday.
