Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, AFG in ZIM, 3 T20Is, 2024 Full score card

OUT! BOWLED! A length ball on leg, Blessing Muzarabani opens up his body and swings but misses and it crashes the stumps. Afghanistan win by 50 runs.

Length ball outside off. Gwandu knocks it to point for a single.

Full and on leg. Trevor looks to push at it but misses.

Too full and on middle, Blessing Muzarabani drives it down to long on for a single.

Well defended! A yorker on middle, Trevor Gwandu gets his bat down and blocks it out.

Serves it full and outside off, slower one. Trevor Gwandu looks to drive it but misses.

A length and outside off, Trevor Gwandu looks to push at it but misses.

OUT! TAKEN! Raza goes and that should be the game for Afghanistan! Serves it short and on middle, Raza goes back and pulls but not with conviction, it goes high and to mid-wicket where Azmatullah Omarzai takes it.

FOUR!  Raza single-handedly keeps the hopes alive! A low full toss, outside off. Raza just opens the face of the bat, guides it to third man for a boundary.

TWO MORE! Fuller ball, outside off, Raza drives it through covers for a couple of runs.

Too full and on middle. Blessing Muzarabani blocks it out.

OUT! BOWLED! Rashid Khan against left handers is such a threat! Floated full and on middle, zips off the surface and beats Richard Ngarava's slog-sweep to crash the stumps. Sikandar Raza has his head down.

Tad short and on middle and leg, Raza pulls it to square leg for a single.

TWO WIDES! Down the leg side, Richard Ngarava misses his flick and it rolls past the keeper for one.

Richard Ngarava comes to the middle.

OUT! GONE! Clutch! Khan strikes again! Flighted full and on middle, invites the lefty for the big stroke and Wellington Masakadza slog-sweeps but straight to deep mid-wicket where Naveen-ul-Haq tumbles back and takes it.

Touch fuller and wide of off. Raza hits it down to long off for a single.

Very full and around off, Raza prods and defends it out.

Length and outside off. Raza guides it to third man for a single.

A slower length ball outside off, Wellington Masakadza taps it to mid off for a single.

Naveen-ul-Haq serves it full and from around the wicket, outside off, Wellington Masakadza looks to play but the ball dies along the ground.

A good length ball, just outside off, Raza dabs it to third man for a single.

On middle, Wellington Masakadza plays it to square leg for a single.

Wellington Masakadza walks in next.

OUT! TAKEN! Naveen-ul-Haq gets his second wicket! Bangs it short and angling on middle, Musekiwa looks to pull but is hurried and top edges it to cover. Zubaid Akbari takes a dolly there.

Musekiwa keeps the strike as he turns this full ball to long on.

Tossed up, outside off, Musekiwa looks to push it but mistimes his shot on the deck.

Flat and outside off Musekiwa punches it to cover.

SIX! 11 runs of three balls! Floats it full and on middle, Musekiwa lofts it down to long on and it goes all the way. Just what Zimbabwe wanted from Musekiwa.

FOUR! HIT HARD! Slightly short and outside off, Musekiwa slaps it over exrta cover and it goes past long off in a flash.

IN THE AIR BUT SAFE! Flighted full and outside off, Raza swings his bat hard but slices his shot to deep point. The fielder runs in but it falls well short.

A dot to end the over! 11 runs off the over! Floats it full and on off, Musekiwa pushes it back to the bowler.

Bowls it full and on middle, Raza plays it to long on and rotates the strike.

This is full and outside off, Musekiwa chops it to point for a quick single.

Flat and turning in from middle. Raza nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.

Serves it full and on off, Raza looks to drive but gets an inside edge behind square leg for a couple more.

SIX! Raza takes on Khan! Touch short and around off, quicker one from Rashid and Raza hammers it over long on for a biggie.

Angles in a full ball on middle, Raza hits it down to long on for a single.

Ahmad serves it full and outside off, Tashinga Musekiwa pushes it to long off for a single.

Goes full and outside off, Raza drives it hard and to deep cover for a single.

Bowls a yorker slanting outside off, Raza leaves it alone and shakes his head later on.

FOUR! CLOSE! A slower bumper outside off, Raza opens the face of the bat and dabs it to the left of short third man who dives but it evades him. A boundary.

Short of a length and outside off, Raza slaps it back to the bowler.

Googly on the middle. Musekiwa plays across the line and gets stuck on the back pad. Half an appeal from the bowler but umpire was unmoved.

OUT! LBW! Rashid Khan gets his man! Bowls it too full, at the stumps. Burl misses the sweep yet again and gets pinned in front. An appeal and up goes the finger. Zimbabwe are deep in trouble now. Half the side is back in the hut.

Quicker and fuller at the stumps. Burl sweeps and misses.

Full on the leg. Burl looks to turn it around the corner. Misses and gets hit on the pad. Half an appeal was turned down.

Flat, at the stumps. Raza knocks it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Tossed up on the leg. Burl works it through square leg for one.

Slower length ball, at the stumps. Burl turns it through mid-wicket for one.

Slower bumper angled down the leg. Raza pulls it to long-leg for one.

On a length, outside off. Burl cuts it to deep point for one.

On a length, angling down the leg. Burl flicks and misses. It clips the thigh pad on the way to the keeper.

BYE! On a length, outside off. Raza swings and misses. Gurbaz fails to collect it cleanly and gives away a bye.

Back of a length around off. Raza dabs it to short third.

A single to end a successful over for Afghanistan as Raza plays it to long on.

On middle, Burl pushes it down to long on for a single.

OUT! BOWLED! What happened there? Ohh, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has bowled him out. Flatter and turning in around off, Brian Bennett goes back but plays the wrong line, he misses his flick and it goes past his edge and clips the top of off.

This is full and on middle, Raza eases it to long off for a single.

Flat and outside off, spins in. Raza knocks it to point.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowls it full and on off, Raza blocks.

On middle, Raza eased it down to long on for a single.

Very full and on middle, Bennett sweeps it to square leg for a single.

On off, Brian Bennett pushes it to cover.

Flatter and outside off, Bennett punches it to cover.

A googly, full and outside off, Bennett looks to push but inside edges it past the stumps.

Length and on middle. Raza eases it down to long on for a single.

Serves it full and spinning on middle, Raza nudges it to long on for a single.

Full and on off, Brian Bennett works it through covers for a single.

Too full and on middle, Bennett turns it to square leg for a couple of runs.

Full and on off, Raza pushes it to long off and gets off the strike.

OUT! Straight to the fielder! Flatter and outside off, Wessly Madhevere goes back and punches hard but straight to Mohammad Nabi at cover.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman tosses it up and bowls it on off, Bennett punches it to cover.

Slants in a full ball on middle, Bennett tucks it to square leg for a single to end the over. Decent Powerplay for Zimbabwe.

A length ball on middle, Bennett turns it to mid-wicket for a single.

A single as Wessly Madhevere steers it to third man.

This is full and on off, Wessly Madhevere pushes it to cover.

A good length ball on middle and leg, Wessly Madhevere turns it to mid-wicket.

On middle, fuller and Bennett nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.

Outside off. Wessly Madhevere dabs it to third man for a couple of runs.

TWO WIDES! Down the leg side, Bennett fails to flick and the keeper fails to stop it cleanly. One run taken.

TWO RUNS! This is full and on off, Bennett pushes it to mid off, Nabi dives to his left but half-stops and they take another run.

FOUR! SHOT! Threads it through! Outside off angled away and Bennett flashes his blade through covers for a boundary.

Good stuff from Ahmad! Length and on middle, Bennett defends it out.

Goes full and bowls it on leg, nips back in. Bennett again misses his flick. An appeal for LBW but it was going down.

Wide! Length and too straight on leg, Bennett fails to flick it away.

Angles it short and outside off, Bennett slashes and misses. An appeal for caught behind but more in hope.

Wessly Madhevere walks to the middle.

OUT! GONE! Myers goes now! Short of a length and on middle, Myers pulls it well, but gets more height than distance. The fielder at deep square leg runs to his left, very close to the fence but holds his nerves.

Shorter and outside off, shapes away. Myers without any foot movement tries to push but misses.

FOUR! Solid shot! Gives a bit of width outside off on a length. Myers slaps it through covers and it races to the fence.

Wide! Slides it full and down the leg side, Myers misses his flick.

Length ball, outside off, Myers punches it to cover.

Lovely nut! Bowls the outswinger, full and outside off, Myers looks to drive it away but misses.

RISKY SINGLE! Full and on off, Bennett pushes it to mid off and calls for a quick single. The fielder hits the stumps at the bowler's end but the replay shows Bennett was in.

Azmatullah Omarzai is into the attack.

Pushes it full and around off, rolls his fingers on it. Myers looks to drive but inside edges it onto the pads.

Slants in a length ball on middle, Myers bunts it to mid-wicket.

Dion Myers is the new man in.

OUT! GONE! Poor shot to be honest form Marumani! Walks down to a short ball and gets in an uncomfortable position. Marumani swings his bat and ramps it to deep point where Azmatullah Omarzai takes it near the ropes.

A good length ball on middle, Bennett turns it to mid-wicket for a single.

Serves it full and around off, Bennett pushes it back to the bowler.

SIX! NAILED! In the hitting arc of Bennett, short and on middle, he stands tall and pulls it over square leg for a biggie. Good start for the hosts.

Tossed up full and on middle, Bennett drills it to long on for a single.

FOUR! This is clever! Floats it full and on leg, Bennett sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary.

Too full and around off, Marumani sweeps it to square leg for a single.

Goes for the reverse hit again but this is just outside off and Marumani misses.

FOUR! Finds the gap! He is making his go to shot recently. On middle, Marumani reverse sweeps it through cover-point for a boundary.

Serves it full and slanting on middle, Marumani reverse sweeps it to point.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl now.

Short in length and on top of off. Bennett taps it to cover.

A good length ball on off and it nips in. Bennett misses his flick and gets hit high on the pads. He wants a single and roams out of his crease but gets back in quickly.

Drags his shot! Full and outside off, Bennett inside edges his push to square leg.

Zimbabwe are underway! Touch too full and on middle, Bennett flicks it through mid-wicket and comes back for the second.

Short in length and outside off, Bennett slashes his blade and misses.

Naveen-ul-Haq starts with an inswinger full and on middle, Brian Bennett blocks it out.

SAFE AGAIN! Fuller delivery at the stumps, Gulbadin Naib jams it down just wide of long on and looks for two. Rashid Khan sprints to the bowler's end but Naib is struggling a bit. The ball is thrown towards the keeper and Tadiwanashe Marumani collects it in front of the stumps and has to drag it onto the stumps. The replays show that Naib was just back in and Afghanistan finish with 153/6.

Slower one, on a hard length and outside off, Khan goes after it but gets an inside edge towards fine leg for a single.

Banged in short over off, Rashid Khan takes it on and pulls it flat and hard wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Rashid Khan is in next.

OUT! TAKEN! Excellent catch from Sikandar Raza and Trevor Gwandu is pumped up with that wicket. Hard-length delivery, angled into the batter, Darwish Rasooli looks to take it on but ends up skiing it high and just over mid off. Raza sprints back and keeps his eyes on the ball before diving and taking a fine catch. End of a top knock from Rasooli.

A slower bumper outside off, well directed and surprising the batter. Rasooli looks to take it on but is well beaten.

Full and in the blockhole around off, Naib just digs it out down to long off and turns the strike over.

FOUR! A bit unlucky for the bowler and 17 runs come off that over! Hard length, angled well across off, Rasooli throws his hands at it and slices it over short third before the ball hits the turf and runs away to the fence.

FOUR! A touch of class from Rasooli. Short and just too wide, Rasooli waits and glides it up and over short third with the face of the blade for yet another boundary.

FOUR! What a shot to bring up the FIFTY, the first of his T20I career for Darwish Rasooli. Short of a length over off, Rasooli makes room and tonks it just back over the bowler's head for a second boundary in the over.

Full and outside off, a bit slower too, Naib reaches out and slices it away to deep backward point for a run.

FOUR! Streaky but will do nicely for Gulbadin Naib. A bit more short and outside off, Naib throws his hands at it and gets an outside edge in between short third and the keeper for a boundary.

Just back of a length around off, extracting some extra pace and bounce off the deck. Naib looks to swing across the line but is well beaten.

Another short ball over the stumps, pulled away in front of square leg for a single.

SAFE! Slower one, into the pitch and over middle, Gulbadin Naib uses his wrists to play a controlled pull towards deep square leg and looks for two. The throw is a bit wide at the keeper's end but the bails atre eventually dislodged. The replays show that Naib was well in.

Swing and a miss! Pitched up wide of the off stump, Gulbadin Naib hangs back and swings hard at the ball but fails to connect.

Pace off, around the top of off, Naib punches it on the up and straight to mid off.

FOUR! Crunched! Short again, a lot quicker, Naib gets on top of the bounce and pulls it firmly in between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a timely boundary.

Slower short ball, angled into the body, Rasooli looks to pull but gets cramped for room and gets a top edge around the vacant square leg region for a single.

Just four singles off that over! A skiddy bumper now, tight on off and Gulbadin Naib looks to ramp it away but misses.

Excellent stop from Dion Myers. Full and just outside off,  Rasoolistays deep and crunches the cover drive but can't get it through the inner circle and it will only be a single.

Sees the batter moving and digs in a quick short one well across off, Rasooli fails to reach it and no wide is called either, dot ball.

Slower one, into the pitch and angled well across off, Naib looks to fetch and pull but mistimes it through square leg for one more.

Banged into the deck and over middle and leg, Rasooli sets up to pull but miscues it down to long on for just another single.

Good length on off, Naib punches it just wide of short cover and scampers across for a quick single.

Fractionally short over middle, played off the back foot through mid-wicket for a single to ene the over.

Short one over middle and leg, Naib pulls it well behind square leg and picks up a couple of more runs.

FOUR! Edged away and Sikandar Raza is not happy with that. Nagging length on off, straightening a bit as well, Gulbadin Naib looks to drive but gets an outside edge just past the keeper and the ball rolls away into the fence.

Stump-to-stump bowling again from Raza, this is just pushed down to long on for one more by Rasooli.

Dragged length on middle, Naib rocks back and manages to work it past mid-wicket this time for a single.

Flatter and on middle, Naib pushes it down but straight to mid-wicket.

WIDE! Floated up, spilled down the leg side for a wide.

SIX! Almost another spectacular catch but Ryan Burl has done brilliantly to save the six, or has he? Hard length over middle, Rasooli just stays put and launches it through the line towards long on. Burl backtracks a bit and grabs it over his shoulder and tries to flick it back in but his foot lands over the rope before the ball is let go.

FOUR! SHOT! Back of a length and outside off, Darwish Rasooli stays upright and leg side of the ball before slapping it flat and over extra cover for a boundary. The 100 is up for Afghanistan as well.

A genuine slower ball now, full and wide, Gulbadin Naib squeezes it away square through the off side for a single.

Takes a bit pace off this one and bowls it wide of the off stump, Naib looks to cut but the ball stays pretty low and skids through.

Goes full and around off, right in the blockhole, Gulbadin Naib jams it back to the bowler.

Hard length on middle, hit away on the up and through the line, down to long on for a single.

Gulbadin Naib is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Outstanding athleticism from Wessly Madhevere and Mohammad Nabi has to depart! Short ball on middle and leg, Nabi rocks back and pulls it flat and hard, in front of deep mid-wicket as well. However, Madhevere sprints across to his left and then leaps horizontally and grabs a stunning catch with both hands before hitting the turf hard. The crowd loved that one!

Fractionally short again and around middle, Rasooli rocks back and swats it down to long on for a single.

Rasooli misses out on another freebie! Too short and wide, cut away hard but straight to Sikandar Raza at cover.

Excellent running this time. A touch short on middle and leg, Rasooli works it away down to cow corner and picks up two runs.

Dragged length, sliding it into the batter, Nabi goes back and across and forces it down to long on for one more.

Not all that full and around off, hit away through the line and down to long off for a single.

No run there! Slower again, into the pitch and around off, Nabi looks to drop and run but gets an inside edge off the pads towards backward point.

Takes pace off and bowls it a bit short around off, Rasooli waits well and plays it square through the off side for one more.

Hard length on off, nipping back in sharply, Nabi gets an inside edge onto the pads and the ball rolls to the off side. The batters pick up a quick single as well.

Back of a length, aimed in at the body, Rasooli tucks it away through mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

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.

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.

Short of a length and around off, Rasooli rocks back and punches it away straight towards extra cover.

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.

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.

Short again outside off, hit away flat and past the bowler this time towards long off for just a single.

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.

Short ball outside off, cut away into the deep through cover-point for one.

Shortish length on leg, rising up, awkwardly nudged away towards mid-wicket for a single by Omarzai.

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.

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.

Flatter one around off, cut away straight to point.

On a length and outside off, tapped away square through covers for a single.

Flighted up around off, Omarzai reaches out and drags the slog towards cow corner for just a single.

Nice and full at the stumps, Rasooli pushes it down to mid on for a dot. Afghanistan are 73/3 at the halfway mark.

Fuller one on middle and leg, flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a run.

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.

Darted in on middle, Omarzai leans on and pushes it to the right of the bowler who makes a sharp stop.

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.

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.

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.

Good length on off, Omarzai stays put and punches it straight down to long off for one more.

Nicely floated up around off, this is driven along the carpet and towards long off for a run.

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.

Keeps it full and wide of the off stump, Omarzai drives this one through the cover region for a single this time.

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.

Ryan Burl to bowl his leg break now.

Excellent running! Fuller and into the pads, Rasooli flicks it away wide of deep square leg and sprints back for the second.

Fuller and in line with the stumps, just eased down to long on for yet another single.

Call is for two but they won't get it. Into the deck and around off, hit away off the back foot and just wide of long off for one.

On the pads this time, worked away in between square leg and mid-wicket for yet another single by Omarzai.

Flatter delivery on off and middle, staying low, Darwish Rasooli makes room and drags it down to long on for one more.

Bowled with an upright seam, on a good length and over middle, Omarzai punches it down to long on for a single.

WIDE! Slightly dragged down but down the leg side it goes for a wide.

Sikandar Raza brings himself on now.

Flighted, a bit full and on middle, Darwish Rasooli blocks it down the pitch.

Slightly short and around off, punched away through the cover region for a single.

On the pads, nudged away around the corner for a quick single by Rasooli.

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.

WIDE! Looks to slide one into the pads but gets it down leg for a wide.

Flatter again, pushed through around off, Darwish Rasooli looks to cut but miscues it just past the keeper.

Flat and wide outside off, slapped away towards sweeper cover for just a single by Omarzai.

Wellington Masakadza comes into the attack now.

Slightly pace off and back of a length over off, Darwish Rasooli looks to ease it on the off side but bunts it back onto the deck. Afghanistan are 41/3 at the end of the Powerplay.

Hard length over the stumps, Rasooli gets across and hoicks it across the line past mid-wicket for a couple of more runs.

FOUR! Length ball, a bit too straight on the pads, Darwish Rasooli picks it up and lifts it high and well in front of the man at deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Oh, deary me! What is going on in the middle? Hard length around off, Darwish Rasooli pushes it down in front of covers and looks for one. Omarzai says no at first but then starts to come and Sikandar Raza has all the time in the world to get the direct hit in. Raza though just misses the shy at the bowler's end and Omarzai survives a real scare.

Some uneven bounce as this one rises from a good length, Omarzai does well to adjust and nudges it down to deep third for one more.

Back of a length angled in at the hips, nicely tucked away behind square leg for a single.

A sharp bumper to end a successful over for Blessing Muzarabani. Brisk pace, dug in short and just around off, going in around face height and Omarzai just hops away from the line of the ball.

Hard length again, angling in from around middle, Omarzai nudges it to the leg side looking for one but won't get it.

Hard length outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai watches it well and just leaves it alone.

Azmatullah Omarzai is the new batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Blessing Muzarabani does have the last laugh here and suddenly, Afghanistan are in a spot of bother. Bowled on a length and around off, Sediqullah Atal looks to drive on the up but it just isn't full enough and ends up slicing it straight to covers where Tashinga Musekiwa takes a good low catch in front of him. Atal departs after a fine start.

FOUR! Elegantly done by Atal! Short ball on off, sitting up nicely, Atal just hangs back and pulls it well in front of square for a boundary.

Back of a length and angled across off, Sediqullah Atal stands tall and just taps it towards covers.

Blessing Muzarabani switches ends.

They get the extra run as well! Fuller one at the stumps, Darwish Rasooli eases it towards mid on for a quick single but an overthrow allows him to get back for the second.

Good length around off, pushed away gently into the off sode by Rasooli.

Darwish Rasooli is in next.

OUT! RUN OUT! Bullseye from Wessly Madhevere and that's disastrous for Afghanistan. Trevor Gwandu bowls it back of a length and around off, Zubaid Akbari dabs it down in front of covers and looks for one but the batters hesitate. Akbari tries to get back but Wesley hits the stumps at the keeper's end and Akbari is left stunned.

Fuller in length and around leg, Sediqullah Atal misses the flick and the ball goes off the pads past square leg for a leg bye.

Risky single but Zubaid is off the mark. Hard length on leg, tucked away off the pads to mid-wicket for one.

Zubaid Akbari is in at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! Loose, too loose from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Trevor Gwandu gets a wicket off the first ball. Pitched up on off, Gurbaz tries to get inside the line and lift it over mid off but skews it up and straight to mid off. Ryan Burl there makes no mistake and Afghanistan lose their first wicket.

Trevor Gwandu comes in as first change.

Full and aimed in at the toes, Atal manages to clip it away past square leg and does well to get back for the second run as well.

Just short! Banged in short and wide outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes after it and gets a top edge on the bounce to Blessing Muzarabani at deep third and picks up a single.

Dug in short and around off, Atal miscues the pull and gets it to the left of mid-wicket for a run.

Slower one, on a dragged length on middle, Gurbaz looks to block and run but almost gets played on. He does manage to scamper through for a run as well.

A slight misfield and they get the second run. Length ball, wide of off again, Gurbaz thrashes it away wide of deep third and picks up a brace.

Swing and a miss! Fuller in length and well outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes chasing after the width but swings too hard and fails to connect.

FOUR! Atal finishes the over just like he began it. Good length outside off and angling away, driven on the up by Atal through covers for another lovely boundary.

Back of a length and outside off, guided off the back foot down to deep third for a run.

Shorter in length around the hips, tucked away past square leg for a run by Atal.

Drop and run! Slower short ball around off, Gurbaz gets on his toes and dabs it wide of short third for one more.

Back of a length and around off, Atal presses back and nudges it down past gully for a quick single.

FOUR! Glorious from Sediqullah Atal. Good length around off, staying a bit low, Atal gets forward and strokes it well wide of mid off for a boundary.

Blessing Muzarabani to operate from the other end.

FOUR! Nicely done by Gurbaz! Hard length around off, Gurbaz just strides across and caresses it on the up and gets it wide of point and into the fence for the first boundary of the game.

Loose shot! Dished out a bit fuller and outside off, Gurbaz throws his hands at the cover drive but the ball stays a bit low and beats the bat.

Gurbaz is early to step out and Ngarava seems him coming. The length is pulled back and the ball is pushed across the right-hander and Gurbaz lets it go.

Length again, around the top of off, Atal just presses forward and pushes it into the off side for a quick single to get off the mark as well.

Some swing on offer now! Good length in the channel, landing beside one of the cracks and just seams away from the left-hander. Atal leaves it alone.

Off the mark right away! Back of a length around off, rising up to the batter, Rahmanullah Gurbaz just presses back and bunts it past the pitch on the off side for a quick single.

All in readiness for the match to begin! The umpires are out in the middle and the players of Zimbabwe can be seen forming a huddle before taking to the field. It will be the duo of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal to open the innings for Afghanistan. Richard Ngarava will get proceedings underway with the ball. Let's play...

Sikandar Raza, the skipper of Zimbabwe says that the bowlers have done a great job and they will look to build on it. Adds that they have had a couple of scratchy wins off late and hopefully, it will be a lot smoother today. Ends by saying that they are going with the same team.

Rashid Khan, the captain of Afghanistan says they will bat first. Adds that they need to get the right start which they missed in the last game and keep improving. Reckions the surface is a bit similar but a few cracks might open up in the chase. Informs that they have three changes with a couple of injuries as well.

Zimbabwe (Unchanged XI) - Tadiwanashe Marumani (WK), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza (C), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu.

Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Zubaid Akbari, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (C), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fareed Ahmad.

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

Afghanistan on the other hand are a quality T20 side that is just missing a few key players none bigger than Fazalhaq Farooqi but they need to start better with the bat. Naveen-ul-Haq also needs to step up in order to negate the loss of Farooqi but also because Mujeeb Ur Rahman is returning from a long injury setback. Rashid Khan and his men will be looking to bounce back and make it 1-1 before heading into the final game. Will they be able to do so? We will find out in due time. Toss and team sheets in a bit, stay tuned.

Zimbabwe will be pleased heading into game 2 with a 1-0 advantage and the way they bowled for a large part in that first match was impressive as well. The batting does need a few tweaks but seeing lower-order batters get them over the line will be a huge positive and they will be eyeing up a series win today

Hello and a warm welcome to one and all. We are back at the Harare Sports Club in Harare for the 2nd T20I between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. The first game was an absolute humdinger that went to the final ball but eventually, the hosts broke a five-year winless streak in T20Is against Afghanistan.

... MATCH DAY ...

After a thrilling opening encounter that went down to the wire, Zimbabwe will aim to seal the series in the second T20I, while Afghanistan will be desperate to bounce back and force a decider. The action continues at the Harare Sports Club, and we can expect another cracking contest. Afghanistan, known for their resilience, will be eager to rectify the mistakes of the first game. Their top order, led by the dynamic Rahmanullah Gurbaz, struggled to fire, and they’ll need a stronger start this time. The middle-order duo of Karim Janat and Mohammad Nabi rescued them with a gritty effort to post a competitive 144, but the bowlers couldn’t capitalize. Despite an early breakthrough, partnerships from the hosts put Afghanistan on the back foot. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, typically reliable, had a tough outing, failing to be at their best initially, which proved costly. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will be buoyed by their spirited victory and look to ride the momentum. Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani were outstanding with the ball, stifling Afghanistan’s batters early on. In the chase, Brian Bennett and Dion Myers anchored the innings, and despite some late nerves, Tashinga Musekiwa kept calm to finish the job. With home support and confidence on their side, Zimbabwe now have a golden chance to wrap up the series. It’s a must-win for Afghanistan and a chance for Zimbabwe to seal the deal! Everything to play for in this high-stakes clash!