Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 2nd T20I at Bulawayo, Oct 28 2015 - Match Result

4.35 pm As they walk off they strike the stumps into the ground, as if hurling down a spear in victory. Afghanistan have certainly claimed the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo as their own, with one-day and T20 series wins. Gulbadin Naib is the Man of the Match for his fifty, to go with his two wickets. And there you have it! Another historic win for Afghanistan, and they've thoroughly enjoyed this tour. I've also enjoyed covering it. Until my next return to ESPNcricinfo commentary, it's good bye from Queens Sports Club.

Abdul Satar Kha: "Does any one believe what just happened? Wooooow"

Shahid: "Though I'm happy for Afghanistan, I'm equally worried about cricket in Zimbabwe. Fan of the game there see nothing but defeats to their national team."

Srihari: "Arguably the best T20 match of the year could only be enjoyed by those that were at the ground, that's what's wrong with cricket. Well done to both sides for a fantastic and kudos Afghanistan for another historic scalp."

4.30 pm Afghanistan have pulled off yet another major victory, with a series win in the T20s to go with their success in the ODIs. Zimbabwe managed a much better 190 for 7, on the back of Sean Williams' quickfire fifty, but it still wasn't enough. Usman Ghani weathered Zimbabwe's short-ball attack, taking on their quicks to reach a maiden T20 fifty. Once he was out, Gulbadin Naib took over to register a first T20 fifty of his own, striking the winning runs with one delivery to spare. Once again it's Afghanistan who are seizing the stumps as mementos, with several members of team sprinting onto the outfield to congratulate the batsmen.

hrishikesh: "and this series will be called the CRICKETING REVOLUTION in afghanisthan..."

Danish Muneer P: "Wooow What a game of cricket Gulbadin came from nowhere and stunned Zimbabwe"

FAIZI: "I wonder what Inzi is teaching these boys..."

wali: "I wanna see their happy faces so badly, I wish I was there to huggg them, love you guys."

19.5

Mpofu to Gulbadin, 2 runs

down the ground! That's the game! Afghanistan have won it! They have taken the series 2-0! Naib somehow got his bat underneath this full ball, and chipped it down the ground. The fielders sprinted in from long-on and long-off, but they couldn't stop the two!

Two from two. Could we see a tie? Plenty of tinkering going on with the field. The sweeper cover comes up now.

Hassan Nasir: "2 off 2...I could chew the rubber off a kookaburra at this very moment"

19.4

Mpofu to Shafiq, 1 run

swiped to long-on, Masakadza is around quickly and fires back a throw. They can only get a single!

Three from three. Afghanistan's game, you'd think. Fine leg goes down to the boundary now.

Aashir: "Plzzzzzzzz someone put the highlights of this match on youtube"

19.3

Mpofu to Shafiq, FOUR runs

the paddle sweep beats short fine leg! Brave shot! He got down very low, expecting the yorker, and beat Ervine with the shot.

19.2

•

Mpofu to Shafiq, no run

well bowled! Mpofu charges in and delivers a full pace yorker, curving in through the air and landing wide of off stump. Ball beats bat, and it's a dot ball.

Seven from five needed.

19.1

Mpofu to Shafiq, 2 runs

hammered down to long-off. They were always going to push for two, and they get them safely.

Afghanistan may have lost Naib, but they need nine runs to pull off a fantastic two-peat - adding the T20 series to their ODI series win against a Full Member.

It all comes down to the final over. Afghanistan need nine runs, and Zimbabwe are entrusting Mpofu with the final over. There's a chant of "Bobby! Bobby!" rising up from the stands on the Western side of the ground. Third man and fine leg are up.

Over19

14 runs, 1 wicket

AFG 182/4CRR: 9.57 RRR: 9.00

Gulbadin Naib 54 (30b 7x4)

T Muzarabani1/32 (4)

Sifat khawry: "my heart is in my mouth now... Now this match can go either way. Excitements!!" --- And typos

18.6

Muzarabani to Gulbadin, OUT

what reactions! The ball was smashed hard back at Muzarabani, into the ground. It seemed sure to go past him, but he stuck a hand out and caught it. Sadiq was way out of his crease at the non-striker's end, and Muzarabani immediately broke the stumps with a quick throw.

Karim Sadiq run out (Muzarabani) 11 (5b 0x4 1x6 14m) SR: 220

18.5

Muzarabani to Gulbadin, 2 runs

slapped hard down to long off, and the batsmen scurry back for two! Great running.

18.4

Muzarabani to Sadiq, 1 run

Sadiq fakes a walk into the leg side, then steps way across to off as Muzarabani delivers. But he can only toe end it to short third man.

18.3

Muzarabani to Sadiq, 2 runs

that's a better delivery from the seamer, but it's clubbed to midwicket. And they push for two

18.2

Muzarabani to Sadiq, SIX runs

big hit! It was a full toss, and Sadiq picked it up so cleanly over long leg. It hits the tin roof of the low stand there, and bounces away between some buildings. They might need a new ball...

18.1

Muzarabani to Gulbadin, 3 runs

sliced up and over cover, the ball plugging in the outfield as they rush back for two. And that's fifty for Gulbadin! From 28 deliveries, his first in T20Is.

Hassan Nasir: "Cricket at it's best. Excitement and expectations at an all time high on both ends......."

Over18

16 runs

AFG 168/4CRR: 9.33 RRR: 11.50

Gulbadin Naib 49 (27b 7x4)Karim Sadiq 2 (2b)

CB Mpofu0/35 (3)

17.6

Mpofu to Gulbadin, 1 run

quick single! Mpofu ends with a sharp yorker that's dug out down the track. Mpofu sets after it, and hits the stumps, but Sadiq is home

17.5

Mpofu to Gulbadin, FOUR runs

and another! This was a full toss, dipping towards leg stumps, and he cleared his front leg to slap it through square leg. The fine leg fielder runs around, but he can't get there.

17.4

Mpofu to Gulbadin, FOUR runs

great shot! Fearless stuff. Gulbadin walks across to off and scoops this cleanly over the fielder at short fine leg. This is a career best effort with the bat for him

17.3

Mpofu to Gulbadin, 2 runs

crunched to long-on, and they take on the fielder to turn one into two

17.2

Mpofu to Gulbadin, FOUR runs

heaved out into the leg side, and that's four! He placed it perfectly, as there are two men out there, right between square leg and deep midwicket

17.1

•

Mpofu to Gulbadin, no run

that's better. He spears down another full ball, close to yorker length, and it slips under the bat outside off.

17.1

Mpofu to Gulbadin, 1 wide

make that 38 from 18. Mpofu flings this full ball too wide outside off.

Christopher Bobby Mpofu comes back into the attack from the City End. Afghanistan need 39 from 18.

Over17

6 runs, 1 wicket

AFG 152/4CRR: 8.94 RRR: 13.00

Gulbadin Naib 34 (21b 4x4)Karim Sadiq 2 (2b)

T Muzarabani1/18 (3)

16.6

1lb

Muzarabani to Gulbadin, 1 leg bye

the ball has struck the pad, but the bowler's appeal is turned down. Gulbadin was looking to scoop this over short fine leg. The ball definitely looked to be headed down the leg side

Sifat khawry: "I wish I could see this match live on tv. What a fight shown by the Afghan players.. Hats off!" ---- Don't forget the discipline being shown by Zimbabwe. They've pulled this back very nicely after a strong opening stand

16.5

Muzarabani to Sadiq, 1 run

another ball lands close to the blockhole, and it's swiped down to Williams at long-on.

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Match details

GroundQueens Sports Club, Bulawayo

TossZimbabwe, elected to bat first

Series

Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe

Season2015/16

Player Of The Match

Gulbadin Naib