Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe (Afghanistan Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe Cricket Team) 2nd T20I LiveAfghanistan vs Zimbabwe (Afghanistan Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe Cricket Team) 2nd T20I Live: After losing the T20I series opener to Zimbabwe, Afghanistan find themselves in a do-or-die situation as they lock horns with the hosts in second fixture against the hosts at Harare Sports Club. Afghanistan have won the toss and opted to bat first. They are playing with 3 changes, Zubaid, Gulbadin, and Darwish are in while Hazratullah, Karim and Ishaq are left out.
Earlier in the opening fixture, Tashinga Musekiwa struck 11 runs off the final over on Wednesday to give Zimbabwe their second-ever victory against Afghanistan in a T20 international. After hitting 10 runs off five balls, including a four, to tie the scores in the first of a three-match series, he claimed one run from the final ball bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai for a dramatic win.
Playing XIs:
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani(w), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza(c), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sediqullah Atal, Zubaid Akbari, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan(c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fareed Ahmad Malik
LIVE FEED
12.2 – Length ball at the stumps, Nabi leans on and just pushes it a bit wide of mid on looking for two but has to settle for the single.
12.1 – Off the pads! Blessing Muzarabani comes back in and slips a fuller delivery down leg, Nabi gets tangled down the leg side but the ball goes off the pads and is pouched by the keeper.
11.6 – Short of a length and around off, Rasooli rocks back and punches it away straight towards extra cover.
Batsman_1 : Darwish Rasooli 25(23)
Batsman_2 : Mohammad Nabi 1(1)
Bowler : Ryan Burl 1/11(2)
Over : 12
Run : 3
Wicket : 1
Score : 87/4
11.5 – On middle and leg, nudged away to the on side for a quick single by Nabi. Ryan Burl is quick to chase the ball down and a direct hit at the bowler’s end would have been close.
Mohammad Nabi walks out to bat now.
11.4 – OUT! CAUGHT! Brilliantly done by Brian Bennett and the stand is broken! After a couple of half-trackers, Ryan Burl bowls it well full and at the stumps. Azmatullah Omarzai looks to get under the ball and launch it straight but gets it really high. Bennett from long on runs across to his left, takes the catch but has the presence of mind to flick it back in the air as he went over the ropes and comes back in to snaffle it nicely.
11.3 – Short again outside off, hit away flat and past the bowler this time towards long off for just a single.
11.2 – Should have been put away! Way too short and outside off, Darwish Rasooli looks to flat-bat it past the bowler but gets it off the toe end of the bat.
11.1 – Short ball outside off, cut away into the deep through cover-point for one.
10.6 – Shortish length on leg, rising up, awkwardly nudged away towards mid-wicket for a single by Omarzai.
Batsman_1 : Azmatullah Omarzai 27(21)
Batsman_2 : Darwish Rasooli 24(20)
Bowler : Wellington Masakadza 0/19(2)
Over : 11
Run : 11
Wicket : 0
Score : 84/3
10.5 – Full and wide outside off, driven firmly and well wide of deep cover for a couple of runs more. The 50-run stand is also up between these two.
10.4 – SIX! Easy power from Omarzai! A touch full and around off, Omarzai plants his front leg across and launches it over long off for a biggie.
8.2 – Keeps it full and wide of the off stump, Omarzai drives this one through the cover region for a single this time.
8.1 – Starts with a low full toss, well wide of the off stump, Omarzai reaches out and hits it wide of deep point for a couple of runs.
10.3 – Flatter one around off, cut away straight to point.
10.2 – On a length and outside off, tapped away square through covers for a single.
10.1 – Flighted up around off, Omarzai reaches out and drags the slog towards cow corner for just a single.
9.6 – Nice and full at the stumps, Rasooli pushes it down to mid on for a dot. Afghanistan are 73/3 at the halfway mark.
Batsman_1 : Darwish Rasooli 23(19)
Batsman_2 : Azmatullah Omarzai 17(16)
Bowler : Sikandar Raza 0/16(2)
Over : 10
Run : 8
Wicket : 0
Score : 73/3
9.5 – Fuller one on middle and leg, flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a run.
9.4 – Nicely bowled! The one that goes away from the right-hander, a bit full and angled across off. Omarzai is drawn forward and beaten past the outside edge. The keeper dislodges the bails but Omarzai has lone foot inside the crease.
9.3 – Darted in on middle, Omarzai leans on and pushes it to the right of the bowler who makes a sharp stop.
9.2 – SIX! That’s huge! Fractionally short on middle and leg, Azmatullah Omarzai stays put and just clobbers this one high and handsome over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.
9.1 – Short ball, angled well into the batter, Rasooli backs away and forces it down to long on for yet another single. No dots for over three overs now.
8.6 – Cries of ‘catch it’ but the ball falls well short. Shorter one on middle, Darwish Rasooli rocks back and pulls it up and towards cow corner for a single.
Batsman_1 : Darwish Rasooli 22(17)
Batsman_2 : Azmatullah Omarzai 10(12)
Bowler : Ryan Burl 0/8(1)
Over : 9
Run : 8
Wicket : 0
Score : 65/3
8.5 – Good length on off, Omarzai stays put and punches it straight down to long off for one more.
8.4 – Nicely floated up around off, this is driven along the carpet and towards long off for a run.
8.3 – Gets a good hand on it! Tossed up outside off, Darwish Rasooli gets forward and creams the cover drive but Sikandar Raza dives to his left and gets a hand on it. The batters get two runs in the deep.
Sikandar Raza brings himself on now.
6.6 – Flighted, a bit full and on middle, Darwish Rasooli blocks it down the pitch.
Batsman_1 : Darwish Rasooli 14(11)
Batsman_2 : Azmatullah Omarzai 3(6)
Bowler : Wellington Masakadza 0/8(1)
Over : 7
Run : 8
Wicket : 0
Score : 49/3
6.5 – Slightly short and around off, punched away through the cover region for a single.
6.4 – On the pads, nudged away around the corner for a quick single by Rasooli.
6.3 – FOUR! Lovely shot! Tossed up outside off, Rasolli plants his front leg across and just lofts it inside-out over extra cover for a boundary.
6.3 – WIDE! Looks to slide one into the pads but gets it down leg for a wide.
Ryan Burl to bowl his leg break now.
7.6 – Excellent running! Fuller and into the pads, Rasooli flicks it away wide of deep square leg and sprints back for the second.
Batsman_1 : Darwish Rasooli 18(14)
Batsman_2 : Azmatullah Omarzai 6(9)
Bowler : Sikandar Raza 0/8(1)
Over : 8
Run : 8
Wicket : 0
Score : 57/3