Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, 2014

At Bulawayo (Queens Sports Club), July 24, 2014. Fourth one-day international: Afghanistan won by 100 runs. Afghanistan 259 (49.1 overs) (Gulbadeen Naib 31, Nasir Ahmadzai 39, Samiullah Shenwari 40, Mohammad Nabi 37, Shafiqullah 56; D. T. Tiripano 5-63); ‡Zimbabwe 159 (38 overs) (R. Mutumbami 64; Sharafuddin Ashraf 3-29). MoM: D. T. Tiripano. MoS: Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe). ODI debut: R. Mutumbami. Taylor's fears were confirmed when Zimbabwe plunged to a series-levelling loss; he was removed as limited-overs captain later in the day. Afghanistan's margin of victory was the largest (by runs) for an Associate over a Full Member in this format.While fans took to social networks to register their displeasure, Zimbabwe's Daily News screamed "How low can we sink?" Zimbabwe's omission of a frontline spinner, on the most worn pitch of the series, was their most puzzling decision. Their supporters were right to expect more after Taylor won the toss for the third time out of four, and his bowlers kept Afghanistan to a gettable score; Donald Tiripano captured his maiden five-wicket haul in his third ODI. The rot set in when Taylor picked out cow corner in the seventh over; by the 13th, Zimbabwe were 29-6 and doomed. Their shining light was an energetic fifty from Richmond Mutumbami - but, as he was their third wicketkeeper of the series, even that was tinged with chaos.