Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
Date: December 11, 2024
Result: Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets (with 0 balls remaining).
The 1st T20I between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan was thrilling and kept fans on their seats until the last ball. Zimbabwe emerged victorious by 4 wickets, successfully chasing Afghanistan’s target of 145 with no balls to spare. Here’s a comprehensive match breakdown highlighting key performances, detailed scorecards, and turning points.
Afghanistan’s Innings: Controlled Start but Lack of Acceleration
Afghanistan, batting first, had a shaky start, losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the very first over. Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava bowled an exceptional spell, dismissing Gurbaz and troubling the top order. Hazratullah Zazai provided some respite with a quick 20 off 15 balls but fell to Blessing Muzarabani, who kept the scoring in check.
Karim Janat and Mohammad Nabi were the standout performers for Afghanistan. While Janat anchored the innings with an unbeaten 54 off 49 balls, Nabi played a fiery knock of 44 runs off just 27 balls, smashing five fours and a six. Their partnership brought much-needed stability and helped Afghanistan post a competitive total of 144/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Afghanistan Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Minutes | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 3 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Hazratullah Zazai | 20 | 15 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 133.33 |
| Mohammad Ishaq † | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Karim Janat * | 54 | 49 | 71 | 5 | 0 | 110.20 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 13 | 12 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 108.33 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 44 | 27 | 38 | 5 | 1 | 162.96 |
| Rashid Khan © (not out) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extras | 7 (lb 1, w 6) | |||||
| Total | 144/6 | 20 Ov | 93 Mins | RR: 7.20 |
Zimbabwe Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Richard Ngarava | 4 | 28 | 3 | 7.00 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 4 | 24 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Wellington Masakadza | 4 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Victor Nyauchi | 4 | 31 | 0 | 7.75 |
| Ryan Burl | 2 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
Zimbabwe’s Innings: A Nail-Biting Finish
Chasing 145, Zimbabwe’s innings was a rollercoaster ride. Brian Bennett anchored the chase with a composed 49 off 49 balls, ensuring Zimbabwe stayed on track despite losing wickets at regular intervals. His partnership with Dion Myers (32 off 29) laid the foundation for the chase.
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Afghanistan’s bowlers, led by Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan, tried to put the brakes on Zimbabwe’s scoring. Naveen-ul-Haq picked up three crucial wickets, while Rashid Khan’s spell of 2/24 created pressure during the middle overs. However, Zimbabwe’s lower order, particularly Tashinga Musekiwa (16* off 13) and Wellington Masakadza (6* off 2), held their nerves to guide their team to victory on the final ball.
Zimbabwe Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Minutes | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Brian Bennett | 49 | 49 | 74 | 5 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani † | 9 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Dion Myers | 32 | 29 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 110.34 |
| Sikandar Raza © | 9 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 180.00 |
| Ryan Burl | 10 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 142.85 |
| Wessly Madhevere | 4 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Tashinga Musekiwa (not out) | 16 | 13 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 123.07 |
| Wellington Masakadza (not out) | 6 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 300.00 |
| Extras | 10 (lb 2, nb 1, w 7) | |||||
| Total | 145/6 | 20 Ov | 97 Mins | RR: 7.25 |
Afghanistan Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 4 | 26 | 3 | 6.50 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 3 | 23 | 0 | 7.66 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 3 | 18 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 34 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Karim Janat | 2 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
Key Moments and Turning Points
- Early Breakthroughs: Afghanistan’s bowlers struck early, dismissing Zimbabwe’s openers within the powerplay.
- Bennett’s Steadfastness: Brian Bennett’s mature knock ensured Zimbabwe stayed in the game despite regular wickets.
- Raza’s Cameo: Sikandar Raza’s quick 9 off 5 balls helped accelerate the scoring during a crucial phase.
- Tense Final Over: With 7 runs needed off the last over, Zimbabwe held their nerves, thanks to Tashinga Musekiwa and Wellington Masakadza’s composure.
Conclusion
This thrilling match showcased the resilience and determination of both teams. While Afghanistan’s middle-order performances and disciplined bowling created opportunities, Zimbabwe’s ability to handle pressure proved decisive. The series now moves to the second T20I, with Zimbabwe leading 1-0.
The Harare crowd witnessed a nail-biting finish, and the cricketing world celebrated another memorable contest between two spirited teams.
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