Ibrahim, Rahmat and Farid Star as Afghanistan Seal the ODI Series

Farid Ahmad (3/56) took three wickets before Ibrahim Zadran (120*) and Rahmat Shah (88) dominated the chase to set up a comprehensive Afghanistan win and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. 

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan opted to bowl first and have struck straightaway on the 2nd delivery of the inning, with Fazal Haq Farooqi bringing one back to Regis Chakabawa to trap him in front for not. The skipper Craig Ervine counter attacked the Afghan bowlers, but after making a brisk 30, failed LBW to Farid Malik. 

Innocent Kaia who was playing only his 2nd ODI match, scored a well-made 63 and shared an important 67-run partnership for the 4th wicket with Sikandar Raza (40), and soon after they started to change gears, Kaia danced down the track to a short delivery from Farid Ahmad and nicked it behind to Gurbaz to give Afghanistan the 4th wicket. 

That wicket opened the door for Afghanistan Bowlers as they picked 5/26 in the next 6.2 overs to leave Zimbabwe tottering at 177/8 in 37.6 overs. Blessing Muzarabani fought hard to share a 46-run stand for the 9th wicket with Ryan Burl who made a fighting half-century to take them to a respectable total of 228 runs in their first inning. 

Farid Ahmad was the pick of the bowler from Afghanistan’s side, as he returned with the figures of 3/56 in his 10 overs. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and the left-arm quick Fazal Haq Farooqi all took two wickets. 

In reply, Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early on for an in-swinging delivery from Blessing Muzarabani, but Rahmat Shah alongside the 20-year-old Ibrahim Zadran ensured not to lose another early wicket, they went on to share a match-winning partnership of 195 runs for the 2nd wicket to take Afghanistan closer to the target. 

Rahmat Shah once again after a very good inning, wanted to cut a short and wide delivery square of the wicket but nicked it to the wicket-keeper to fall for a well-made 88, 12 runs short of his century. Ibrahim Zadran converted his start to an astonishing hundred, his maiden in this form of the game to guide Afghanistan to a comprehensive 8 wicket win and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. 

Ibrahim Zadran was awarded as the best player of the match for his outstanding knock of 120* runs off 141 balls including 16 boundaries. With this win, Afghanistan went 2-0 up in the series, with the third match to be played on Thursday, June 9 in Harare.