ZIM vs AFG 2024/25, Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I, Harare Match Report, December 13, 2024

Afghanistan stutter within the powerplay once more

Afghanistan’s high order failed to fireplace for the second sport in a row; they misplaced three wickets within the house of 9 balls to complete the powerplay on 41 for 3 – a minor enchancment on their 34 for 4 within the first T20I.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz acquired going with a boundary punched by way of sq. within the first over, whereas Sediqullah Atal hit Blessing Muzarabani for 2 fours by way of the off facet within the second.

However Trevor Gwandu made an on the spot impression, placing along with his first ball, Gurbaz spooning a catch to mid-off. Two balls later Zubaid Akbari was run out making an attempt to pinch a single to backward level that was by no means there.

Trevor Gwandu struck along with his first ball of the match•AFP/Getty Photographs

Atal tried to maintain Afghanistan’s momentum going, pulling Muzarabani in entrance of sq. for his third boundary off the seamer, however Muzarabani had the final snicker as he had Atal caught at cowl level subsequent ball.

Afghanistan might have misplaced a fourth wicket within the powerplay thanks to a different mix-up, however Azmatullah Omarzai survived. Rasooli acquired going with a pickup shot behind sq. off Gwandu, after which lofted Wellington Masakadza over further cowl within the first over with out fielding restrictions.

Burl pegs Afghanistan again with a double-strike

Omarzai, who took a while to settle, pulled a Sikandar Raza half-tracker over midwicket for the primary six of the match within the tenth over.

He adopted that up with one other six down the bottom within the subsequent over however holed out making an attempt to hit Ryan Burl in the identical areas. Brian Bennett took a wonderful catch working throughout to his left from long-on, catching it excessive and throwing it up earlier than taking one step outdoors the boundary rope and coming again in to finish the catch.

In his subsequent over, Burl dropped one quick and Nabi miscued a pull to deep midwicket’s left and Wessly Madhevere held on to a screamer at full stretch. Now Afghanistan had half their facet again within the hut.

Ryan Burl had some implausible catches taken off his bowling•Related Press

Rasooli offers Afghanistan late surge

Rasooli slapped Gwandu over mid-off within the subsequent over earlier than going downtown once more when Burl virtually pulled off yet one more implausible parried-grab on the boundary, however replays confirmed he had made contact with the bottom outdoors the boundary rope on the mistaken second.

Naib then edged a 4 off Raza, as Afghanistan collected 22 runs from the 2 overs after Nabi’s wicket.

The very best was but to come back. Within the penultimate over, Rasooli hit Ngarava for 3 fours on the trot, mentioning his maiden T20I fifty within the course of. That was 17 for the over, and Afghanistan had been in sight of 150. Gwandu acquired him within the ultimate over and conceded simply the six runs although, to maintain Zimbabwe’s goal right down to 154.

Omarzai, Naveen deal early blows

Zimbabwe began to construct momentum from the second over of their chase, with each openers hitting Mujeeb for a 4 every earlier than Bennett dispatched Naveen over deep midwicket for six.

However quickly sufficient Naveen noticed Tadiwanashe Marumani coming down the monitor and pulled his size again and the batter ended up slashing it to deep backward level.

Omarzai struck with one other quick ball, having Dion Myers caught at deep backward sq..

Brian Bennett couldn’t keep on after getting a very good begin•AFP/Getty Photographs

Mujeeb derails Zimbabwe’s chase

Mujeeb got here again within the assault instantly after the powerplay and had Madhevere hitting a drive straight to quick cowl.

In his subsequent over, he bamboozled Bennett as he acquired one to show previous his outdoors edge and simply clip the off bail.

Rashid then joined within the enjoyable when he trapped Burl in entrance making an attempt to comb and at 57 for five, Zimbabwe had been on the ropes.

Naveen, Rashid shut the sport out

Tashinga Musekiwa, who hit the profitable runs off the ultimate ball of the primary T20I, took Mujeeb on in his ultimate over, driving him by way of further cowl and launching him over long-on off consecutive deliveries.

However Musekiwa’s counterattack was short-lived; Naveen rushed him with tempo within the subsequent over and he miscued a easy catch to cowl.

Rashid then struck twice in an over and the sport was all however executed.

Naveen had Raza caught at deep midwicket within the seventeenth, and Fareed Malik completed issues off castling Muzarabani subsequent over.