Zimbabwe A level series after wicket fest

Zimbabwe A 157 (Mutumbami 44, Sharafuddin 5-33) and 112 for 2 (Vermeulen 47*) beat Afghanistan 169 and 99 (M'shangwe 4-20) by eight wickets
Scorecard

Zimbabwe A's bowlers gave the hosts a massive eight-wicket win against Afghanistan, despite conceding a first-innings lead, and levelled the two-match series 1-1 on the second day which saw the fall of 20 wickets. After being dismissed for 157, Zimbabwe skittled Afghanistan for 99 in the second innings and chased down 112 within 25 overs at the cost of only two wickets.

The hosts were set to take a lead, resuming the second day on 113 for 2, but Mark Vermeulen was dismissed on the first ball of the day and they lost their remaining seven wickets for 27 runs as Sharafuddin Ashraf picked up five wickets on his first-class debut.

Afghanistan took a slim 12-run lead but could not capitalise on that as the Zimbabwe bowlers did not allow any partnership to flourish. Only four of Afghanistan's batsmen reached double-figures and legspinner Natsai M'shangwe's 4 for 20 meant the visitors were restricted to 99.

Zimbabwe's chase was led by Tino Mawoyo's 38 and an unbeaten 47 from Vermeulen, who wrapped up the win with a boundary.