Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, Afghanistan in Zimbabwe, 3 T20I Series, 2022 Full score card

SIX! DONE AND DUSTED! Najibullah Zadran has finished off the match in style! Slower delivery, on a length and on leg stump. Zadran just swings at it and clears the vacant backward square leg fence. Afghanistan win by 6 wickets!

Sloppy fielding again and Afghanistan get an extra run. Very full and on leg stump, Najibullah Zadran drills it towards Milton Shumba at long on who fumbles and the batters race back for the second.

Surprise, surprise! Craig Ervine opts to bowl Blessing Muzarabani for the final over and not Luke Jongwe. Could this be the decision that makes the difference? Can Muzarabani defend 7 runs?

A dot to end and Tendai Chatara has just about kept his side in the game. This is on a length but is pushed wider. Nabi backs away to hit but just can't reach it. 8 required off the final over now.

Excellent bowling! Very full and on middle, Najibullah Zadran looks to go big but can't get under it. Zadran gets an inside edge onto the pads as the batters scamper through for one.

Full and straight, driven down the ground to long on for a single.

Top comeback from Tendai Chatara! Nabi tries to step out but Chatara nails the yorker on middle. Nabi just about jams it out.

Edged and four! Short of a length, around off. Nabi backs away and has a swing at it. The ball flies off the top edge and over short third man for a boundary. Just the run-a-ball required now.

FOUR! Length ball, around off. Mohammad Nabi punches it sweetly through extra cover. The fielder puts in the dive to his right at the fence but can't cut it off, boundary.

Tendai Chatara to bowl the penultimate over.

Very full and on off, pushed through mid on for a single. 18 needed now off 12 balls.

FOUR! Placed to perfection! Full and wide, Mohammad Nabi creams it past the diving fielder at the extra cover fence for a boundary.

WIDE! Slower again, spilled down the leg side.

Another slower delivery, bowled into the deck. Najibullah Zadran swings at it and gets it to the right of deep mid-wicket for just a single.

Full and on the pads, clipped away past backward square leg for one.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Gem of a slower delivery from Luke Jongwe and he has broken the stand. This is just pitched up a bit and it's the off cutter. The ball comes in off the surface as Darwish Rasooli swings hard across the line. Rasooli gets undone by the lack of pace and the ball goes on to crash into the off pole. Could this be the wicket that turns the tide? 26 needed off 16 balls.

Mohammad Nabi is the new man in.

WIDE! A slower ball, bowled into the deck but spilled beyond the tramline outside off. Wide called.

Full and on off stump, this is hammered towards wide long on for just a single. Zadran wanted two but Darwish Rasooli is a bit too slow.

Luke Jongwe is back into the attack.

Full and around off, this is drilled down to long off for one. Najibullah Zadran will keep the strike for the next over and now 28 runs are required off 18 balls.

Would you believe it? The batters have run four! Slower delivery, on a length and on leg stump. Najibullah Zadran just punches it towards wide long on but Wesley Madhevere is just a bit casual and misses the ball completely. He has to run back and cut off the boundary but it doesn't matter. Sloppy from Zimbabwe at a crucial stage.

WIDE! Just not getting it right here Blessing Muzarabani. Full and wide, a bit too wide again though.

WIDE! Attempted wide yorker but spilled beyond the tramline. Wide called.

Length ball, angled into off. Darwish Rasooli hangs back and keeps it out on the off side for a quick single.

Nails the yorker on off stump, Zadran drills it towards long on for one.

NO BALL AND SIX! Oh, my! How the tables keep on turning in this game! Slower one, pitched up and on middle. Najibullah Zadran has just smoked it a long way back over the bowler's head for another monster hit. To add insult to injury, Blessing Muzarabani has overstepped and it will be a Free hit!

SIX! WOW! Blessing Muzarabani bangs it in on a shorter length and over middle. Najibullah Zadran just lays into it and hits it a million miles high and long over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

FOUR! Well struck! hard length and outside off, Najibullah Zadran holds still and muscles it over the wide mid off region for a boundary. 50 needed now off 23 balls.

Blessing Muzarabani is back on.

Leg bye! Quicker one, on the pads. Zadran looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards short fine leg as the batters pick up a leg bye.

FOUR! Finally, a boundary and a much-needed one as well. This is around off, Najibullah Zadran gets low and lofts it powerfully over covers for a boundary.

Around leg, Rasooli tickles it around the corner for a single.

This is dragged down on off stump, Darwish Rasooli can't get it away.

Short and wide, cut away to deep backward point for a single. The 100is up for Afghanistan.

This is full and speared into off, Najibullah Zadran attempts the reverse sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads. An appeal from the bowler but no one else seems interested.

Around middle and off, Zadran uses his feet to push it down to long off for yet another single. 61 needed now off 30 balls.

Around off, pushed through the cover region for a single.

Brilliant again from the skipper! Around off, hammered to the right of extra cover where Craig Ervine makes yet another superb stop.

Flatter and around off, this is hit through extra cover for just another single. The boundaries have completely dried up for Afghanistan and the pressure keeps on mounting.

Slows it up a bit, on middle and leg. Zadran keeps it out.

Full and on off, driven down to long off for a run.

Length again, outside off this time, Rasooli cuts it behind point for a single.

Back of a length, around off. This is punched towards covers.

A good bumper, around off, around head height. Darwish Rasooli looks to uppercut but misses.

Back of a length, outside off. Darwish Rasooli hops and taps it towards point.

On a good length, around off. Zadran steers it down to third man for a single.

Back of a length, on off. Rasooli half-pulls it down to long on and rotates the strike.

On off, knocked down to long off for a single. 68 needed now off 42 balls.

Brilliant fielding! Tossed up, outside off. Darwish Rasooli hits it hard and towards extra cover but Craig Ervine makes a sharp stop down to his right.

Drifted into the pads, worked away towards mid-wicket.

The call is for two but they will have to settle for one. On leg stump, Zadran drives it through mid on for a run.

Around off, played through cover-point for one more.

Quicker and fuller, on off. This is pushed down to long off for one.

Floated up, outside off. Darwish Rasooli drives but straight to the man at extra cover.

On off, driven through mid off for a single.

The dots keep on coming and a bit of pressure getting built up on the Afghanistan batters. Shorter, around off, tapped towards point.

Flatter this time and outside off, Zadran misses the cut shot.

Nicely drifted into middle and leg, Najibullah Zadran defends it out.

Quicker and on middle, knocked down to long on for a single.

Najibullah Zadran is in at number 5.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Regis Chakabva holds on to the catch and Ryan Burl is turning it on here, three wickets in the over for him. This is on a length, around off and turning away a bit. Usman Ghani makes the mistake of swinging across the line and gets a thick outside edge on it. The keeper, fumbles but gets it on the second attempt. Zimbabwe well and truly back in the game now. 74 needed now off 54 balls.

Floated up around off, Darwish Rasooli pushes it towards extra cover for a single.

Good running! Around off, kept out on the off side and the batters scamper through for one.

Flatter, on middle. This is pushed towards mid on for a single.

Darwish Rasooli is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Two in two for Ryan Burl and Hazratullah Zazai has given away his wicket here! This is tossed up on middle, Zazai dances down the track and looks to muscle it over the long on fence but doesn't quite get to the pitch of the ball. Zazai ends up hitting it straight down the throat of Sikandar Raza who takes a sharp catch. Burl on a hat-trick now.

Usman Ghani is in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! Finally, a breakthrough for Zimbabwe and could this change the momentum a bit? Ryan Burl just serves it on a length and gives it a bit of flight. Rahmanullah Gurbaz comes down the track and looks to swing across the line. The ball flies high off the top edge and around the point region. The keeper, Regis Chakabva calls it early and settles under it nicely to take the catch.

Another stifled appeal but sliding down leg. This is speared into the pads and Zazai misses the flick. 77 needed now off 60 balls.

Swing and a miss! Nicely flighted and around off, Hazratullah Zazai swings hard across the line but misses the ball by a mile.

Leg bye! Drifting down leg, Gurbaz looks to sweep but gets it off the pads towards short fine leg for a leg bye.

Shorter in length and around off, this is punched sweetly off the back foot towards deep extra cover for just a single.

Huge appeal from the bowler but not given! Flatter and around leg, Gurbaz looks to sweep but gets an inside edge towards short fine leg. Single taken.

Short and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz pulls it aerially towards deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

Misfield! Poor from the skipper, Craig Ervine. Around off, just pushed towards extra cover where Ervine takes his eyes off the ball and picks up a single.

Just slows it up a touch does Ryan Burl and floats it around off. Gurbaz taps it towards covers.

This is pushed through quicker and on off. Gurbaz defends it out.

Leg bye! Fuller and down the leg side, Zazai looks to sweep but misses. The ball goes off the pads towards square leg and they get a run.

A bit of a halt in play as Hazratullah Zazai seems to be struggling with cramps. The physio is out and is having a look. Hope he is fine.

This is dragged down a bit on leg, Gurbaz goes deep in his crease and works it leg side for a single.

On a length and on leg stump, Zazai nudges it past square leg for a single.

Shorter and outside off, Hazratullah Zazai cuts it off the back foot past point and picks up a single. Tidy start from Raza, just the 4 singles off it.

On leg, nudged away through mid-wicket for one more.

Quicker this time from Raza and on off, Zazai pushes it down to long off and rotates the strike.

Flatter and outside off, Zazai taps it towards point.

Around middle, Gurbaz steps down the track and powers it straight back past the bowler. The fielder at long on does well to cut it off. Just the single then.

Starts off with a nicely flighted delivery around off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz defends it off the front foot.

FOUR! It is difficult to keep him quiet at the moment. It is short and on off. Zazai pulls it powerfully through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Sikandar Raza to roll his arm now.

Wide! This one is sprayed down leg. Zazai fails to work it away. Wided.

Flatter and short, outside off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz losses his control this time as he looks to cut it away. The ball goes through the keeper off the inside edge. They take one.

FOUR! Gurbaz joins the party now. It is short and outside off. Gurbaz cuts it hard through point on his back foot. Wesley Madhevere puts in a dive in the deep but in vain.

Short and on off. Gurbaz defends it to cover.

On middle and leg. Gurbaz flicks it to mid-wicket for two runs. This is really good cricket by Afghanistan.

Flighted and full, on off. Zazai hits it down to long on for one.

Ainsley Ndlovu is brought into the attack now.

Full length, on off. Zazai works it to square leg off the inside edge. The batters cross for a single. 15 runs off the over, Afghanistan on top.

FOUR! Three on the trot! Zazai showing no mercy here. It is short and on off. Zazai stands tall and slaps it past the bowler for a fine boundary.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Zazai! It is full and outside off. Zazai stands back and creams it through the cover region for four more.

FOUR! Top shot! It is full and wide outside off. Zazai reaches out and crunches it down to long on for a boundary.

WIDE! This is full and wide, outside the tramline. Zazai lets it be. Wide called.

On a length, around off. Gurbaz dabs it to the right of short third man. Blessing Muzarabani dives to that side and makes a great stop to only allow a single.

A slower ball, on a good length, this one lands on off and nips in off the deck. Rahmanullah Gurbaz makes room but is unable to send it away. The ball scoots past the leg pole.

Blessing Muzarabani goes for 12 in his second over. A length ball, on the pads. Gurbaz stays back and flicks it to square leg for one.

Short ball, outside off. Zazai punches it towards deep backward point for one.

FOUR! Up and over! A slower one, wide outside off. Zazai reaches out and hits it enough to clear the man at mid off and gets a boundary.

Another single now, as Gurbaz dabs this length delivery down to third man.

Muzarabani hits the length hard this time. Zazai defends it to the leg side for a quick single.

FOUR! Hazratullah Zazai seems to be in stormy mood. It is a slower ball, short and on off. Zazai picks up the length early and pulls it through the gap at mid-wicket for a cracking boundary.

Blessing Muzarabani (1-0-9-0) to bowl from the opposite end now.

This is touch shorter, on top of off. Gurbaz plays it late and works it towards backward point.

FOUR! Shot of authourity! It is full, on off. Gurbaz gets behind it and slaps it over covers for a boundary.

BYE! Length, angled across the left-hander, outside off. Zazai slashes but misses. The keeper fails to collect it and the batters sneak a bye.

FOUR! A shot and a half, this! It is fuller, on off. Luke Jongwe bowls a slower one but that does not bother Zazai at all, as he powers it down the ground for a boundary.

In the air...but safe! It is overpitched, on off. Gurbaz miscues his loft towards long on which keeps him at the crease as the ball lands safely. The batters take a single.

Full length, on off. Gurbaz pushes it to cover on the front foot.

Luke Jongwe to have a bowl now.

Back of a length, on middle. Gurbaz stays back and pulls it through the gap at square leg for one more. A good over by Chatara comes to an end.

Short and on off. Zazai pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Zazai taps this length delivery towards covers.

Length ball, on the pads, Gurbaz tucks it to mid-wicket for one.

Good length, outside off. Gurbaz tries to chase it but misses.

Short ball, wide outside off. Gurbaz cuts it hard but only to backward point.

A single now as this is worked to mid off.

A slower length ball, around off. Gurbaz works it down to third man for a brace.

Touch short, around the hips. Zazai clips it to mid-wicket and scampers across for a single. Craig Ervine misfields but Rahmanullah Gurbaz wisely sends his partner back.

Length ball, outside off. gurbaz taps it to the off side for a quick single.

FOUR! Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets his first boundary of the chase. It is a short ball, in the channel. Rahmanullah Gurbaz stays back and slams it over backward point for a boundary.

Length and on off. Gurbaz taps it to point.

Blessing Muzarabani to start from the opposite end.

FOUR! Width on offer and punished! It is a short ball, wide outside off. Zazai hangs back and cuts it through point for a boundary. 8 runs off the first over and Afghanistan are off to a flying start.

Touch fuller, on middle. Gurbaz comes down the track and lofts it towards long on. He does not connect well, which is good for him as there is a man stationed in the deep. A single taken.

Tendai Chatara gets this to get into the right-hander. Gurbaz stays back and tucks it to mid-wicket.

A length ball, around off. Gurbaz fends it to the off side.

Swing and a miss! It is a length ball, outside off. Gurbaz uses his feet and tries to smack it down the ground but only manages to connect with thin air.

Afghanistan and Hazratullah Zazai are off the mark. It is a length ball, outside off. Zazai stays back and punches it through the gap at covers for three runs.

LEG BYE! A yorker now, angled into the pads. Ainsley Ndlovu fails to tuck it away. The ball rolls out off the pads and the batters collect a leg bye. ZIMBABWE END at 159/8 AT THE END OF THE INNINGS.

A sharp yorker, on the fourth stump line. Ainsley Ndlovu tries to dig it out but misses.

FOUR! This time he connects and makes it count. It is full and on off. Ainsley Ndlovu goes on his knee and slogs it through the gap at mid-wicket for a boundary.

Slower one now! Full length, wide outside off. Ainsley Ndlovu tries to go after it but gets deceived by the pace here.

A slower one, full and on off. Tendai Chatara fends it to covers for a quick single.

Good running! Fuller, around off. Tendai Chatara punches it to covers. There is a bit of a fumble which allows the batters to come back for two.

A single now, as Chatara taps this length delivery to covers. An entertaining over comes to an end.

150 up for Zimbabwe. Length ball, on off. Ainsley Ndlovu taps it to backward point and scampers across for a quick single.

On a length, around off. Tendai Chatara guides it to third man for a single.

Tendai Chatara is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sikandar Raza holes out at a crucial stage. It is a length ball, outside off. Raza throws his blade. It takes the outside edge and goes to the left of short third man. Hazratullah Zazai dives to his left to take a sharp catch.

SIX! BANG! Costly, costly from Nijat Masood and all of a sudden Zimbabwe seem on course of putting on a decent total. Length, around middle and leg. Raza hangs back and smokes it over Rashid Khan on the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.

NO BALL AND SIX! A bit of inexperience shown here by the debutant. Nijat Masood tries to go for the yorker but serves a high full toss around middle and leg. Raza does really well to pull it over the backward square leg fence for a biggie. Free Hit to follow...

In the air...lands safe! Length, around the top of off. Sikandar Raza tries to force the big shot down the ground but doesn't get enough on it. The ball clears mid off and is cut off in the deep by the long on fielder. Two taken!

Nijat Masood (3-0-21-2) to bowl the penultimate over of the innings.

Slower again, banged in halfway down the track and around off. Sikandar Raza plays a controlled hook shot towards deep square leg for a single.

On a good length, over middle. Ainsley Ndlovu pushes it towards mid on for an easy single.

Comprehensively beaten! Fazalhaq Farooqi takes all the pace of the ball and bowls it on a length, around off. Ainsley Ndlovu looks to work it leg side but has no idea as to where the ball is.

FOUR! The debutant is off and running in style. A low full toss, outside off. Ainsley Ndlovu flails at it and gets it behind square on the off side for a boundary.

Slower again but bowled into the pitch this time and outside off. Raza punches it off the back foot towards deep point for a single.

Slower delivery, fuller and around off. Sikandar Raza drills it past a diving Mohammad Nabi at mid off and picks up a couple of runs.

Beaten! This is flatter and quicker around off, Ainsley Ndlovu looks to block but is beaten past the outside edge.

At the stumps, pushed through mid on for one.

Ainsley Ndlovu on debut, comes out to bat.

OUT! RUN OUT! Would you believe it? Another direct hit and it's brought Afghanistan another wicket as well. This is on a length and on off, Luke Jongwe prods and nudges it to the right of the bowler. Sikandar Raza calls him for a single and Jongwe is off the mark. Rashid Khan springs to his right and turns around quickly to throw the ball onto the stumps at the bowler's end. Jongwe is ball watching and puts in the dive at the last moment. The replay shows that the dive wasn't enough and Jongwe is out.

Flatter and quicker, on off. This is pushed towards covers for one.

FOUR! Powered! Overpitched from Rashid this time and Sikandar Raza just hammers it right back over the bowler's head for a boundary. The runs are starting to flow a bit here for the hosts.

Floats it up this time, full and on off. Sikandar Raza looks to drive but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

EDGED AND FOUR! This is short and wide, Luke Jongwe just has a thrash at it. The ball goes off the outside edge and through the slip cordon for a boundary.

Length ball, around off. Raza just guides it past backward point and collects a run.

Full and wide, Luke Jongwe reaches out and edges it down to third man for a single. Just a slight fumble from the fielder over there but it doesn't cost Afghanistan an extra run.

Full and straight, punched straight back towards the bowler who makes a good half stop.

Short of a length, over middle. Raza hops and works it past square leg for a single.

FOUR! Streaky but Sikandar Raza will take it! This is banged halfway down the track and outside off. Raza jumps, looking to uppercut it but gets a top edge that flies over the keeper's head and into the fence.

Luke Jongwe is in at number 8.

OUT! RUN OUT! Direct hit and he's gone! What a brilliant piece of fielding from Karim Janat in the deep. Full and straight, flicked away through mid-wicket by Ryan Burl and the immediate call is for two. Karim Janat charges in from the mid-wicket fence and in one smotth motion throws it back onto the stumps at the batter's end. The replay shows that even the dive couldn't save Burl and he has to walk back.

On off, Sikandar Raza shows the full face of the bat and drives it to wide long off for a single.

Googly this time, turning in off a length. Raza nudges it onto the leg side.

Quicker delivery, outside off. Raza looks to cut but gets a bottom edge down to short third man.

FOUR! Gift from Rashid Khan and Sikandar Raza accepts it gleefully. This is short and down leg, Raza pulls it past the man at deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Flatter this time and on off, Sikandar Raza keeps it out off the back foot.

WIDE! Pushed through fuller and quicker but down the leg side, wide called.

Rashid Khan is back on.

Around the top of off, Burl taps it towards point.

Around middle and leg, Sikandar Raza works it through mid-wicket for a single and that brings up the 100 for Zimbabwe.

Back of a length, around off. Ryan Burl just keeps it out on the leg side and picks up a quick single.

Valiant effort from Rashid Khan but it is put down! This is banged in short over middle and Sikandar Raza tries to take it on. Raza mistimes the aerial pull shot badly and the ball pops up around the mid-wicket region. Rashid covers good ground charging in from the deep and slides in but just can't manage to hold on. Single taken and Rashid seems a bit hurt on the bowling hand.

Ryan Burl is in next.

OUT! CAUGHT! The partnership is broken and the debutant has two! Nijat Masood goes for the slower delivery and bowls it into the deck, outside off. Regis Chakabva takes a couple of steps forward and looks to work it leg side but closes the face of the bat way too early. The ball goes off the top edge and towards mid off. Mohammad Nabi takes a simple catch over there and Zimbabwe are now five down.

On a length and well outside off, Raza gets it off the middle of the bat but finds the man at backward point. Single taken.

Just a bit too straight from Karim Janat, Chakabva gets inside the line of the ball and clips it past the man at short fine leg for a couple of runs.

Full and wide, Sikandar Raza just reaches out and gets it towards sweeper cover for a single.

length this time, around middle and leg. Chakabva nudges it past square leg and rotates the strike.

Nicely bowled! The slower bouncer this time, over middle. Regis Chakabva is completely undone by the lack of pace as he looks to pull.

FOUR LEG BYES! The bowler appeals but it's drifting down the leg side. Full and on the pads, Regis Chakabva misses the flick and the ball goes fine off the pads and into the fine leg fence.

On middle, worked through square leg for a single.

Misfield and Four! Around middle and leg, Regis Chakabva just flicks it off the back foot towards the man at deep square leg who misses the ball completely. The ball goes through the hands and for a boundary. Mohammad Nabi is not impressed.

Nabi floats this time up on leg stump, Raza pushes it off the front foot through mid on for one.

Just keeping the scoreboard ticking these two. Around off, pushed through wide mid off for a single.

Flatter delivery, angled into middle and leg. Raza works it past mid-wicket for one more.

On middle, knocked down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Regis Chakabva takes Nabi on and picks up a boundary. This is floated up down leg, Chakabva goes for the big sweep shot and gets a top edge over the man at short fine leg for a boundary.

Two is the call but they decide against it! Full and straight, Chakabva flicks it towards mid-wicket and looks for two. Sikandar Raza though sends him back and rightly so.

Good bouncer! This is banged in short and around off, the ball bounces around head height and Chakabva just lets it through to the keeper.

Full and straight, whipped away in front of square on the leg side for just a single.

Back of a length, around middle and leg. Chakabva hops and turns it past square leg for one more.

Good running! This is just a tad fuller and around off, Sikandar Raza looks to tap it towards covers but edges it back onto the deck. Chakabva calls him for the single and they make it with ease.

Karim Janat starts off with a shortish delivery around the hips. Chakabva works it behind square on the leg side for a single.

On middle, kept out by Raza. At the halfway mark, Zimbabwe are 70/4!

Slower and on a length outside off. Sikandar Raza hangs back and just nudges it down towards backward point.

This is speared into middle, Chakabva jams it out towards long on for a run.

Uppish but safe! Flighted this time, around off. Chakabva looks to drive but gets a leading edge past the man at extra cover and picks up a couple of runs as well.

Tossed up, on middle. Regis Chakabva looks to work it through mid on but gets it uppishly to the man over there.

Full and straight, Sikandar Raza leans forward and pushes it down to long on for one.

Sikandar Raza is the new man in.

WIDE AND OUT! STUMPED! Mohammad Nabi comes back into the attack and has outfoxed Milton Shumba here! Shumba looks to step out of the crease and Nabi sees his coming. Nabi then just shortens the length and angles it down the leg side. Shumba misses the nudge and Rahmanullah Gurbaz is quick to whip off the bails. Zimbabwe just dugging themselves a bit of a hole here.

Rashid Khan just tries to slide this one across the left-hander, Shumba drives it past point and picks up a single.

Just a stifled appeal and nothing more. This is pushed through fuller and around off. Milton Shumba looks to defend off the front foot but gets pinged on the pads.

And again! A bit flatter and wider, turning away further. Shumba has a poke at it but is well beaten.

Beaten! This is quicker and around off, it's the wrong 'un again and Milton Shumba gets beaten past the outside edge.

Shorter in length and around off. Shumba keeps it out on the off side.

Milton Shumba walks out to bat now.

OUT! Cleaned him up! Top comeback from Rashid Khan and he gets rid of the set-batter. It is the flatter googly, lands it on a perfect length and on off stump. Wesley Madhevere looks to block it off the front foot but leaves a huge gap between bat and pad. The ball turns in sharply and goes on to hit middle and leg.

Misfield and that allows an extra run! Fuller in length, around off. Regis Chakabva uses his wrists to flick it towards deep mid-wicket where the fielder fumble and the batters race back for the second.

Length ball, on the fifth stump line. Wesley Madhevere caresses it through point and rotates the strike.

Misses out there! A half-volley, wide of the off stump. Wesley Madhevere drives it straight to the man at cover-point.

Full and outside off, Chakabva stays deep in his crease and works it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Back of a length, outside off. This is tapped past point for one more.

Slower bumper this time, over middle. Chakabva mistimes the pull shot towards short fine leg and races through for a run. This is excellent from Zimbabwe, just not letting pressure build-up via dot balls.

Flatter delivery, pushed outside off. Regis Chakabva shuffles a bit and nudges it onto the leg side for a quick single.

On a length, around middle and leg. This is just turned through mid-wicket for a run.

FOUR! Nicely swept! This is fuller and on the pads, Wesley Madhevere sweeps it hard and low into the vacant fine leg fence for a boundary.

Huge appeal but turned down! This is quicker and angled into the pads. Wesley Madhevere looks to sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Leg bye! Here comes the googly, drifting onto the pads. Chakabva gets it off the pads and towards short fine leg for a leg bye.

'Catch it,' is the call but it lands just short. On off, starts with a leggie. Wesley Madhevere drives it uppishly towards extra cover for a single.

Rashid Khan is brought into the attack now.

Around off, this is pushed through covers for a run. At the end of the Powerplay, Zimbabwe are 50/2!

WIDE! On a hard length but just a bit too wide.

Short of a length, on leg stump. Wesley Madhevere mistimes the pull shot towards short fine leg.

Back of a length, around off. Chakabva hangs back and just guides it down to third man for a single.

FOUR! Regis Chakabva is up and running! Length again but there's width on offer. Chakabva is onto it in a flash as he cuts it behind point for a boundary.

Beaten! A bit of zip on offer here. This is on a length and on that fourth stump line, Regis Chakabva gets beaten past the outside edge as he looks to make a block.

Azmatullah Omarzai starts off with a shortish delivery on middle and leg, Madhevere pulls it behind square for a run.

Regis Chakabva is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Nijat Masood has the last laugh here and picks up his maiden wicket in international cricket. What a moment for the young pacer and he gets the big wicket of Craig Ervine. Masood pulls back his length and bowls it around middle. The ball angles across but Ervine gets in an awkward position as he tries to work it against the angle. The ball pops up off the leading edge and Masood takes a simple catch to his left.

FOUR! Through the gap again! Good-length, going across the left-hander. Craig Ervine just hangs back and slightly opens the face of the bat and gets it in between backward point and short third man for a boundary.

WIDE! Full and down leg, Ervine looks to flick it over the man at 45 but misses. Wided.

Risky single but Madhevere survives! Length ball, on off. Madhevere taps it towards point and sets off for the single. The fielder misses the shy at the bowler's end or else Madhevere was gone for all money.

FOUR! Wesley Madhevere is just latching onto anything short here and is finding the gaps! Short and just wide enough for Madhevere to rock back and slap it past cover-point for yet another boundary.

Fullish delivery, around leg and angling across. Ervine looks to flick it against the angle but gets a leading edge towards mid off. Single taken!

Keeps it around the top of off, Ervine hangs back to defend it out on the off side.

Nijat Masood (1-0-6-0) to bowl from the other end now.

Leg bye! This is speared down leg, Ervine just gets a slight tickle off the pads as he looks to flick it away. The ball goes towards short fine leg and they get a leg bye.

Shorter and around leg, Madhevere works it off the back foot through mid-wicket for a run.

FOUR! Runs are flowing thick and fast here for Madhevere but that's just poor bowling from the experienced Nabi. Quicker and drifted on the pads, Madhevere just gets a fine tickle and the ball runs away into the fine leg fence.

On a shorter length and on off, this is pulled down to mid on.

FOUR! Two in a row now for Madhevere! Short again, there's width on offer this time. Madhevere punches it off the back foot and through covers for another boundary.

FOUR! Not an ideal delivery to start off with by Nabi. This is dragged down around leg stump, Wesley Madhevere rocks back and has all the time in the world to pull it into the backward square leg fence.

Early change in the bowling as skipper Mohammad Nabi brings himself on.

FOUR! Lovely shot to get off the mark from the skipper. This is a bit wide of the off stump, Ervine just drives it in front of square on the off side and picks up a boundary.

Length ball, angled into the pads of the left-hander. Craig Ervine looks to play the on drive off the front foot but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Slower delivery, around leg stump. Madhevere rolls his wrists and just flicks it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Good shot for no run. Full and straight, Madhevere punches it sweetly back towards the bowler, who does well to stick out his left boot and make a stop.

Extra bit of bounce now! On a good length, close to the off pole. The ball just shoots up off the surface, leaving Madhevere bamboozled.

The skipper, Craig Ervine is in at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! Fazalhaq Farooqi draws first blood! Just a good length ball angled across the right-hander. Innocent Kaia steps down the track and looks to force the big shot across the line. Kaia loses his shape and ends up getting a top edge. The ball goes high and towards cover-point where Azmatullah Omarzai takes a safe catch.

Just 6 runs off Masood's first over! This is banged in short over middle, Kaia pulls it along the ground and towards deep square leg for a single.

Fullish delivery, around off. Wesley Madhevere is a bit late on the cover drive and mistimes it towards long off for a run.

WIDE! Drifts down leg again. Nijat Masood just trying to settle into a rhythm here in his first international game.

Good running! Back of a length, around off. Kaia just drops this one around silly point and Madhevere calls him for a quick run. Masood is able to throw the ball onto the stumps at the batter's end but Madhevere is well in.

Nijat Masood grunts and bowls it on a hard length over off, Innocent Kaia hops and nudges it down towards backward point.

Right around the top of off, just nipping in a touch. Kaia manages to keep it out.

Well fielded! Pitched up, around off. Wesley Madhevere punches it off the front foot towards extra cover where Rashid Khan dives to his right and makes a good half-stop. The batters though scamper through for one.

WIDE! Length delivery, angled down the leg side. Wide called.

Nijat Masood, on debut to start from the opposite end.

The bowler seems interested but no response from the umpire. Fuller delivery, around off and a bit of shape away. Innocent Kaia gets beaten past the outside edge.

FOUR! Overpitched and punished! This time Farooqi misses the mark and serves a half-volley on middle stump. Innocent Kaia with a lovely straight drive back past the bowler for a glorious boundary.

Full and straight, just a hint of shape into the batter. Kaia jams it out towards mid on.

Nicely bowled! Fazalhaq Farooqi gets the ball to move away this time. On a length and angling across the off stump. Innocent Kaia is beaten all ends up.

A touch fuller and around off, the ball shapes back in. Kaia prods forward and defends it out.

WIDE! This is sprayed well down the leg side. Innocent Kaia misses the flick and a wide is called.

Farooqi pitches it up first up and gets a bit of shape back into the right-hander. Wesley Madhevere flicks it through backward square leg and picks up a single. Madhevere and Zimbabwe are off the mark!

We are done with the pre-game formalities and it's now game time! The umpires and the players are out in the middle. Wesley Madhevere and Innocent Kaia are set to open the innings for Zimbabwe. Fazalhaq Farooqi has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

We are moments away from the play beginning. But first, the two sides line up for their respective national anthems. It will be Afghanistan's national anthem first followed by the national anthem of Zimbabwe.

Mohammad Nabi, the Afghanistan skipper says that everybody is in good spirit and hopes that they can start off with a win. Mentions that the pitch looks good to bat on and will look to restrict the opposition to a decent total. Informs that they have a few changes from the ODI series and there is one debutant in the form of Nijat Masood as well.

The captain of Zimbabwe, Craig Ervine says that they will have a bat first. Adds that the game starting in the afternoon makes a bit of a difference and hence the decision to bat first. Adds that 150-160 is generally a good score here. Informs that they have made a few changes to the side.

PITCH REPORT - Tino Mawoyo is pitchside. He says that this pitch is right in the middle and has even square boundaries. Adds that the pitch looks in pristine conditions, the pitch looks hard but has some cracks underneath which aren't visible due to it being sprinkled. Reckons 160 is a bare minimum requirement on the surface.

Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Nijat Masood (On debut).

Zimbabwe (Playing XI) - Wesley Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Craig Ervine (C), Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Regis Chakabva (WK), Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani.

TOSS - Zimbabwe have won the toss and they will have a BAT first.

The hosts have a lot to ponder upon coming into the T20I series and that crucifying defeat in the ODIs will certainly have a huge impact on their performance. It remains to be seen if the hosts can inject some momentum by getting a win here. Which side will go 1-0 up and gain crucial T20 World Cup qualification points? We'll find out. Toss and team news in a bit.