1st T20I, Harare, December 11, 2024, 05:00 PM
Afghanistan
144/6(20.0ov)
Zimbabwe
145/6(20.0ov)
Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 4 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Brian Bennett
Commentry
Right then, that is it from this game but the action has just begun in Afghanistan's tour of Zimbabwe. The 2nd T20I will be played at the same venue on Friday, December 13 and will begin at 11.30 am GMT. You can join us a lot sooner though for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!
Sikandar Raza, the captain of Zimbabwe gets an Award for playing his 100th T20I game, the first from Zimbabwe to do so. Starts by saying that the team needed this victory and such a win can go a long way in the changing room. Mentions that the result is not always in your control and the team tries to give it its all and goes on to applaud Tashinga Musekiwa for finishing the game and hopefully, he starts believing in his abilities more. Adds that when you have a young squad, they can lose track a bit but to come out after a few difficult games is great to see. Ends by thanking the almighty and reflects on his journey and applauds the fans for their support.
Brian Bennett is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his anchoring knock of 49 runs. Brian says that it is always nice to contribute to the team's win. Adds that he didn't start the way he wanted with the bat but just tried to trust his process. Mentions that Dion Myers is a good mate of his and the two of them just tried to keep the required rate under check.
Rashid Khan, the captain of Afghanistan says that the mindset was to go on and put on a good total on the board but were about 15 or so runs shy and came back well with the bat. Reckons that in T20 cricket once you lose so many wickets up top, it is difficult to come back. Mentions that at this level, you need to assess conditions from the get go and that's what they try to do and the wicket is a bit hard to start on, not bat on. Adds that Mohammad Nabi got them back in the game with that wicket and it's all about contributing when the team needs it.
The Presentation ceremony...
The man of the moment, Tashinga Musekiwa is now down for a chat. He says that it is an honor for him to play for Zimbabwe and the support he has got from the team is brilliant. Adds that before the game he went to see Elton Chigumbura, his mentor and thankfully he was able to keep calm. Mentions that it was difficult to start your innings on this deck and there were big boundaries on one side as well.
Afghanistan's only second loss to Zimbabwe and it has come in a heart-breaking fashion as well. The game went up and down and Afghanistan seemed in control of things in the chase but that one over from Naveen-ul-Haq that had so many extras in it cost them dearly even after he picked up a crucial wicket in that over. Rashid Khan wasn't at his lethal best but managed to pick up a couple of wickets in his final over but without Fazalhaq Farooqi, and with Mujeeb Ur Rahman just returning from a long injury, their bowling doesn't have the same bite to it.
Zimbabwe were skeptical to begin with in the run chase and Brian Bennett simply wasn't able to get his timing right but managed to hang on. Dion Myers was the one who took the game to the Afghan bowlers and his partnership with Bennett got Zimbabwe going. However, they went from 103/2 to 119/5 in a flash but those who came in managed to get away a boundary or two. Still, they needed a few hits in the final couple of overs and Tashinga Musekiwa ensured his side got just that and couple with the running between the wickets, it was a job well done in the end.
Insane scenes here at the Harare Sports Club as Zimbabwe notch up a famous win over Afghanistan, their first against the opposition since 2019 and what a way to get the series underway. Zimbabwe had done well to keep Afghanistan 150 runs but it could have been even less. Richard Ngarava was the enforcer early on for Zimbabwe but the partnership between Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat really turned things around in that first innings. However, it wasn't enough as Tashinga Musekiwa's heroics at the death got the hosts the win.
In over# 20
1
2
0
2
2
4
Azmatullah Omarzai 34/0(4)
19.6
1
Oh, he's done it! Tashinga Musekiwa has only gone and done it! Azmatullah Omarzai hones in at the stumps, looking for the yorker but Musekiwa manages to stay deep and jam it out past the fielder at silly mid on and they cross for the winning run. Zimbabwe WIN BY 4 WICKETS!
19.5
2
Scores are level and the crowd is going wild! Hard length over middle, Musekiwa keeps his shape and short-arm jabs it across through the mid-wicket region and into the deep for two. Super-over on the cards? Let's find out...
19.4
.
Loud appeal for caught behind but turned down, it is a dot ball though. Short ball, bowled at a brisk pace and over middle, Musekiwa is taken by surprise and misses the ball as he looks to pull.
19.3
2
How has that not been a run out! Azmatullah Omarzai nails the yorker now and Tashinga Musekiwa jams it out straight to long off for one and they even go for the second which is never on. Darwish Rasooli though with a weak throw at the keeper's end and Musekiwa dives in to safety. 3 needed off 3!
19.2
2
The call is for two and they get it with ease! Looks to spear in the yorker at the toes but misses the mark, Musekiwa manages to jam it down just wide of long on and picks up a couple of runs.
19.1
4
FOUR! Wow, what a shot and what a time to hit it as well. Slower one, on a hard length and outside off, Tashinga Musekiwa is early to move across the off stump and hammers it high and in between deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary. Just 7 needed now off 5.
11 needed off the final over and it will be Azmatullah Omarzai to bowl it. Can he defend 10 runs for his side?
In over# 19
2
4
0W
1
2
1
Naveen-ul-Haq 33/3(4)
18.6
2
Misses the yorker by a few inches and Wellington Masakadza picks it up off middle and leg and hits it in front of deep mid-wicket for a couple of more runs.