2nd ODI, Harare, June 06, 2022, 12:45 PM
Zimbabwe
228/10(50.0ov)
Afghanistan
229/2(44.3ov)
Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 8 wickets
That's all we have from this lopsided game. The last ODI is on Thursday, 9th June 2022, at 12.45 pm IST (7.15 am GMT). You can join us in advance for the build-up. Until then, it's goodbye and cheers!
Ibrahim Zadran (120*) is the Player of the Match! The opener says that he wanted to play his natural game. Adds that the partnership with Rahmat was wonderful and he really enjoys batting with him. Mentions that they got 20 points in the Super League and they want to play positive cricket to win the next game as well.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the captain of Afghanistan, says that he is very happy with the win and the way his team is performing at the moment. Adds that they wanted to get all 30 points from this tour and they will be targeting 10 more in the next game. When asked about making changes to his winning XI for the next game, Shahidi replies that he will think about it in the coming days.
Craig Ervine, the captain of Zimbabwe, says that they knew the pitch flattens out in the afternoon and that's why it was important to get partnerships. Feels that they had a reasonable start but didn't kick on afterwards. Shares that this pitch was much better than the first game and 260-270 would have been competitive. Emphasizes on the getting the partnerships and this is the area they need to work on.
Stay tuned for the presentation...
Earlier in the match, Fazalhaq Farooqi was exceptional with the new ball and got plenty of movement. Zimbabwe stuttered at the start but then recovered through a few partnerships. Innocent Kaia, Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl played handy knocks, but the innings lacked the overall momentum to post a challenging total on the board.
Zimbabwe were listless with the ball, and they weren't great with their ground fielding either. Yet another disappointing outing for them. On a surface, that had something for the pacers, especially with the new ball, the likes of Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara didn't find enough to trouble the batters, and the rest of the bowlers also struggled for rhythm and penetration. Plenty of work to do for the hosts to improve their game in both the facets of the game.
Chasing a below-par target, the Afghans did lose Rahmanullah Gurbaz for yet another low score but Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah batted positively and helped Afghanistan navigate through Powerplay 1 without any more damage. The number of boundaries that the Afghan batters scored early in the innings was the main highlight, and that, in a way, never allowed Zimbabwe to exert any pressure. Thereafter, the duo raised a record stand for the second wicket and put the chase to bed. Zadran notched up his maiden ODI hundred in the process, but Rahmat missed out on yet another ton on this tour, this time by 12 runs.
Easy victory for Afghanistan. A bit boring in terms of competition but certainly commanding from Afghanistan's point of view. Another 10 points for them, and they have strengthened their spot at number 3 on the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League 2020-2022/23 table.
In over# 45
1
0
1
Tendai Chatara 36/0(6.3)
44.3
1
Full length, on off. Ibrahim Zadran hits it down to mid on. The fielder fumbles which allows the batters to cross for a single. It is Ibrahim Zadran with the winning run. What an incredible knock by him! AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 8 WICKETS.
44.2
.
Full length, on off. Zadran blocks it to backward point.
44.1
1
A length ball, on off. Shahidi dabs it to point for a single.
In over# 44
4
0
0
4
0
0
Donald Tiripano 32/1(6)
43.6
4
FOUR! Cracking shot! It is a short ball, on the bodyline. Zadran shuffles and pulls it into the gap between fine leg and square leg.
43.5
.
Fuller, outside off. Zadran pushes it gently towards covers.
43.4
.
Length, outside off, left alone by Zadran.
43.3
4
FOUR! Top shot! Back of a length, on off. Zadran stays back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. Zadran seems to be in a hurry here.
43.2
.
Fuller, on the pads. Zadran flicks it to mid-wicket. The fielder there makes a brilliant stop to save a single here.
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