Courtesy: X
Allah Ghazanfar, the Afghanistan teenage sensation, picked up the second five-wicket haul in his ODI career, to play a key role in his side’s big win over Zimbabwe by eight wickets, chasing down the 128-run target with 139 balls to spare. With this impressive victory in the third ODI at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Afghanistan clinched the three-match series against Zimbabwe 2-0 after the first game was washed out.
For the unversed, the captain of Afghanistan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, won the toss and decided to field first on a sunny day in Harare, and his decision paid dividends as Allah Ghazanfar picked up the first wicket of the match, dismissing Joylord Gumbie for three. In his next over, the right-arm off spinner cleaned up Ben Curran, brother of English cricketers Tom Curran and Sam Curran, for a tame 12 off 31, an innings which included just one boundary.
Watch the video of Allah Ghazanfar bamboozling Zimbabwe batters here:
Allah Ghazanfar took his second five-wicket haul in third ODI of series against Zimbabwe
After Rashid Khan ran through the middle order of Zimbabwe, Allah Ghaznafar took center stage once again, pocketing the likes of Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, and Newman Nyamhuri in quick succession. His 10-over spell ensured that Zimbabwe were bowled out for just 127 runs in 30.1 overs, and ultimately, he went on to register figures of 5/33, to put Afghanistan in a strong position to clinch the ODI series.
In the run chase, Afghanistan openers Sediqullah Atal (52 off 50) and Abdul Malik (29 off 66) played two completely contrasting innings, but they blended well together, to stitch an opening stand of 84 runs, putting the contest firmly beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. The likes of Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi stayed unbeaten till the end of the Afghanistan innings, to take them past the finishing line for a comprehensive victory in the match and series.
Earlier on the tour, Afghanistan won the T20I series against Zimbabwe 2-1 after losing the first match of the series, and now, these two teams will play against each other in a two-match Test series at the turn of the year in Bulawayo.
