Batsmen power Zimbabwe A to victory

Zimbabwe A 272 for 3 (Mutumbami 73, Chakabva 72*, Maruma 63) beat Afghanistan 268 for 7 (Jamal 64*, Jongwe 3-74) by seven wickets
Scorecard

Fifties from Richmond Mutumbami, Regis Chakabva and Timycen Maruma helped Zimbabwe A complete a clinical chase of 269 against Afghanistan with two overs to spare in Bulawayo.

The hosts lost Brian Chari in the third over of the chase, but a 94-run stand between Mutumbami and Forster Mutizwa put them back on track. Mutizwa eventually fell for 33, but another big partnership - 140 for the third wicket - all but secured Zimbabwe A's seven-wicket win.

Mutumbami retired hurt for 73 during his third-wicket association with Chakabva, but his replacement Maruma struck 63 off 62 balls to ensure Zimbabwe A did not lose any ground. Maruma was trapped lbw by Aftab Alam in the 43rd over, but Chakabva remained unbeaten on 72 with six fours and a six to steer his team home.

Having lost the toss, Afghanistan had recovered from the loss of three early wickets to post 268 for 7 from their 50 overs. The innings was built around Nasir Jamal's unbeaten 64 and his 67-run stand for the sixth wicket with Gulbadin Naib, who smashed two fours and three sixes during a 30-ball 43. Medium-pacer Luke Jongwe picked up three wickets for Zimbabwe A, but was expensive and leaked 74 runs in his ten overs.