Afghanistan v Zimbabwe in the UAE, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the first Twenty20 International, Afghanistan v Zimbabwe in the UAE, 2015-16
15-Apr-2016
At Sharjah, January 8, 2016 (floodlit). Afghanistan won by five runs. ‡Afghanistan 187-7 (20 overs) (Mohammad Shahzad 33, Usman Ghani 42, Gulbadeen Naib 37; A. G. Cremer 3-17); Zimbabwe 182-7 (20 overs) (H. Masakadza 33, M. N. Waller 49*; Dawlat Zadran 3-32). MoM: Gulbadeen Naib. T20I debuts: P. J. Moor, D. T. Tiripano (Zimbabwe).
Gulbadeen reprised his heroics of the previous match with 37 from 20 balls to propel Afghanistan to a total that proved just beyond Zimbabwe. They started the final over needing 21, but Dawlat Zadran sent down a wide and two high no-balls, then Luke Jongwe slammed a four and a six. However, needing another six off the final delivery, he sliced a catch to Gulbadeen at deep cover. Earlier, Shahzad had smashed 33 from 17, losing two balls out of the ground, before Cremer's leg-breaks slowed things down. Masakadza objected to the send-off he received from wicketkeeper Shahzad when he was bowled in the 12th over, and had to be guided away from the celebratory Afghan huddle by the umpire.
Gulbadeen reprised his heroics of the previous match with 37 from 20 balls to propel Afghanistan to a total that proved just beyond Zimbabwe. They started the final over needing 21, but Dawlat Zadran sent down a wide and two high no-balls, then Luke Jongwe slammed a four and a six. However, needing another six off the final delivery, he sliced a catch to Gulbadeen at deep cover. Earlier, Shahzad had smashed 33 from 17, losing two balls out of the ground, before Cremer's leg-breaks slowed things down. Masakadza objected to the send-off he received from wicketkeeper Shahzad when he was bowled in the 12th over, and had to be guided away from the celebratory Afghan huddle by the umpire.