2nd T20I, Harare, June 12, 2022, 04:30 PM
Afghanistan
170/5(20.0ov)
Zimbabwe
149/7(20.0ov)
Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 21 runs
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Commentry
Right then, that is all we have from this game. There's just one more match left in this tour and it is the final T20I. Afghanistan have already sealed the series but would like to complete a whitewash. Zimbabwe on the other hand will be looking to win at any costs and get their first win of the tour. That game will start at 4.30 IST (11 am GMT) on Tuesday, the 14th of June but the build-up will begin much sooner. Do join us then, take care and goodbye!
Fazalhaq Farooqi (4-0-19-1) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant display of death bowling. Farooqi says that he would like to congratulate the people of Afghanistan on the win. Adds that he practiced the yorkers and the slower balls in the nets and was able to execute them well today. Mentions that he is very happy to be playing for the national side and it is a big honor for any young player to be playing for their country and will just try to keep doing the same.
Afghanistan skipper, Mohammad Nabi says that they had a good total on the board and the pitch supported the bowlers as well. Mentions that Zimbabwe did bat well and all credit goes to Fazalhaq Farooqi who brought them back into the game. On being asked about Innocent Kaia, he says that he is a great batter but it was Farooqi who bowled well and they did drop a few catches today which is something to improve upon.
The captain of Zimbabwe, Craig Ervine says that they did well to restrict the opposition to 170 and had a decent Powerplay with the bat but lost their way a bit. He then gives credit to the way Sikandar Raza batted but it was a bit too much to do for the lower order. Adds that the Afghan bowlers showed great control towards the backend of the chase and didn't allow their batters to score freely. Ends by saying that of course the last game is important and they would like to finish the tour with a victory.
Presentation ceremony...
After electing to bat first, Afghanistan lost Gurbaz really soon but Hazratullah Zazai did give them a fast start. The middle-order then fell but it was an important stand between skipper Mohammad Nabi and the man in-form, Najibullah Zadran that provided impetus to their innings. Zadran went on to score a half-century and the skipper ended up with a quickfire 40-odd. The bowling from Zimbabwe was erratic but Ryan Burl continued his fine form and was economical. Chasing a stiff target, the hosts never really were able to get ahead of the scoring rate and when they did, they lost important wickets and were outclassed by Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rashid Khan in the end.
The hosts will be frustrated and the pattern continues for them. They tend to have a poor start but Sikandar Raza brings them back into the game with some fine hitting, gets out at the wrong moment and after that no one else is just able to inject some momentum. The top order was shaky again and even though Tadiwanashe Marumani looked good, Innocent Kaia got a half-century but was just too slow. Raza was really the only one who showed some intent but it wasn't enough and they have now lost the T20I series with a game to spare.
With 170 runs on the board, Afghanistan needed half a decent start with the ball to gain control of the game and they did get an early wicket but weren't quite able to put the pressure on the batters. They lacked a bit of control in the middle overs and were very sloppy in the field throughout the course of the innings. But a couple of timely breakthroughs and economical overs saw them get ahead of the game in the final few overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the bowlers as he brought his side back into the game against the run of play and showed brilliant control of the yorker.
Another clinical display from Afghanistan and they have sealed the T20I series to go along with a clean sweep of the ODI series from a few days earlier. The visitors get their fifth victory on the trot in the tour and have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. As for the hosts, they have once again crumbled under pressure.
In over# 20
1
1W
1
1
0W
2
Nijat Masood 29/1(4)
19.6
1
That's it, the visitors have done it! Pitched up, around off. Donald Tiripano drills it towards long off for a single. Afghanistan win by 21 runs!
19.5
W
OUT! RUN OUT! Innocent Kaia looks to get back on strike for the final delivery but there was never a second run there. back of a length, on off. Kaia mistimes it towards wide long on and looks for two. Mohammad Nabi comes in and in one swift motion throws the ball towards the keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz who whips off the bails. Also, Donald Tiripano is the new man in for Zimbabwe.
19.4
1
Slower one, around off. Jongwe backs away and hits it down to long off for one.
19.3
1
On middle, this is drilled down to long on for a single.
Luke Jongwe is the new man in.
19.2
W
OUT! TAKEN! Najibullah Zadran redeems himself with a stunner and that should be the game for Afghanistan. On a length, around off. Regis Chakabva looks to launch it over long on but gets a top edge. The ball goes high and towards extra cover. Zadran runs to his right from the cover region and takes a brilliant running catch.
19.1
2
Full and around off, this is heaved through mid-wicket and the batters look for two. Rashid Khan comes in and fumbles allowing the second run.
In over# 19
1
4
0
1
0
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi 19/1(4)
18.6
1
DROPPED! Another chance goes abegging and it has been a poor day in the field for the visitors. length ball, around off. Regis Chakabva stays deep and launches it towards cow croner. Najibullah Zadran runs around to his right from long on and spills the catch. Single taken. 28 needed now off 6 balls.