Afghanistan Completes T20 Series Clean Sweep Against Zimbabwe with 7-Wicket Victory
Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by 7 wickets in Sharjah, completing a 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 series.
Sharjah, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Afghanistan secured a decisive victory over Zimbabwe, winning by 7 wickets in the third T20 match held at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on November 1. This win allowed Afghanistan to complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the series.
The Afghan team had already claimed the first match by 37 runs and followed it up with a 19-run victory in the second match, establishing an unassailable lead. The two teams are set to face each other again starting November 5 for a two-match Test series.
Batting first after losing the toss, Zimbabwe struggled, collapsing to just 79 runs in 14.3 overs. They lost their first wicket at a mere 8 runs, with Innocent Kaia scoring only 5. Zimbabwe quickly found themselves in trouble, losing three wickets for just 13 runs.
Ryan Burl and Wesley Madhevere attempted to stabilize the innings, forming a partnership of 43 runs for the fourth wicket off 39 balls. However, the innings fell apart in the 11th over, with three wickets tumbling in quick succession. Burl finished as the top scorer with 30 runs, while Madhevere contributed 10. Noor Ahmad was the standout bowler for Afghanistan, claiming 5 wickets for just 13 runs, while Abdullah Tarakhail took 2 wickets.
In response, Afghanistan chased down the target in just 8.1 overs. Captain Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Akram started the innings, adding 15 runs before Akram was dismissed for 14. Zadran then partnered with Sedikulllah Atal, adding 29 runs for the second wicket, bringing the score to 44.
Although Afghanistan lost Atal (20) and Noor ul Rahman (0) in the fifth over, Zadran, who remained unbeaten on 25, teamed up with Azmatullah Omarzai to score 37 runs off just 19 balls, sealing an easy victory. Ernest Masuku took 2 wickets for Zimbabwe, while Blessing Muzarabani claimed 1.
