Afghanistan has triumphed over Zimbabwe in their Twenty20 series! The Afghan team secured a convincing seven-wicket victory on Friday at the Harare Sports Club, clinching the three-match series with one game still to play. Zimbabwe, after winning the toss and electing to bat, were bowled out for a modest 125. Afghanistan then chased down the target, reaching 129-3 with 12 balls remaining.
The star of the show was undoubtedly Rashid Khan, whose masterful spin bowling earned him figures of 3-9, including the crucial wicket of Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. Ibrahim Zadran continued his impressive form with the bat, top-scoring for Afghanistan with an unbeaten 57, marking his twelfth T20 half-century.
Earlier in the series, Afghanistan had already demonstrated their dominance, winning the first T20 match by a resounding 53 runs. This latest victory solidifies their position as a formidable force in T20 cricket. The final match of the series, now a dead rubber, will be played on Sunday.
Zimbabwe struggled to build partnerships, with only the 24-run stand between Raza and Tashinga Musekiwa offering any real resistance. The early dismissals of Dion Myers and Brendan Taylor further hampered their efforts. Khan's bowling was instrumental in dismantling the Zimbabwean batting lineup, consistently troubling the batsmen with his variations and accuracy.
Australia vs India: Live Updates
In other cricket news, follow live updates from the Australia vs India match! The ICC Test Championship sees nine teams compete across a two-year cycle of matches before a two-team final decides the winner. The inaugural competition was won by New Zealand after a thrilling victory over India in June 2021.
The 50-over World Cup is far older and has been competed for since back in 1975. Australia are the record winners having run out victorious on five occasions (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015). England took the 2019 crown after a dramatic Ben Stokes-inspired super-over win over New Zealand at Lord's.
The shortest form of the game sees teams compete in Twenty20. The newest format has been an instant global hit with a number of hugely-lucrative competitions massively popular all over the world. Australia are reigning world champions having taken victory in the 2021 tournament.
Key Moments: Australia vs India
- Sean Abbott to Jitesh Sharma: FOUR! Well-timed drive for 4 runs.
- Sean Abbott to Washington Sundar: Mis-timed drive to mid off for 1 run.
- Marcus Stoinis to Jitesh Sharma: Short ball pulled to deep backward square leg for 1 run.
Stay tuned for more updates!