Azmatullah Omarzai's 116 Fires Afghanistan to Victory
Afghanistan have won by 19 runs. Afghanistan batted first and posted 221/7 in 20 overs. Zimbabwe, chasing 222, fell short at 202/5 in 20 overs.
Azmatullah Omarzai was the standout in the first innings, scoring 116 off 50 balls (SR 232). 12 sixes and 5 fours provided the impetus. The powerplay yielded 19 runs — early wickets put them under pressure from the start.
Sikandar Raza fought hard with 106 off 56 balls, but it was not enough to haul Zimbabwe over the line. The required rate climbed too steeply in the end.
With the ball, Abdullah Ahmadzai delivered figures of 2/34 in 4 overs (Econ 8.5). A tidy spell that kept the pressure on throughout.
With the series level at 1-1, the next match promises to be an absolute cracker.
The Turning Point
The match swung decisively when Zimbabwe lost 5 wickets in a 6-over passage during the chase. What had been a competitive equation turned into a rearguard action, and from there, the asking rate was always climbing.
Key Performers
116 off 50 balls (SR 232), 5 fours, 12 sixes
2/34 in 4 overs (Econ: 8.50)
106* off 56 balls (SR 189), 5 fours, 9 sixes
Verdict
Afghanistan showed composure when it mattered most and deserve this victory. Zimbabwe came up short by 19 runs. There were passages where they looked competitive, but consistency eluded them when it mattered. With the series level at 1-1, the next match promises to be an absolute cracker.