Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 2nd ODI at Sharjah, , Dec 29 2015 - Ball by Ball Commentary

Thanks for joining us. Hope you enjoyed the coverage, which we certainly enjoyed bringing it to you. Join us for the third ODI on January 2. Until then, it's goodbye from all of us here at the commentary desk. Cheers!

Presentation:

Asghar Stanikzai: Great game, delighted with our performance. Openers started well, unfortunately our middle order struggled. Hopefully we will fire in the next game. Match became a lot tougher because we lost a few wickets. Shahzad's knock was brilliant.

Elton Chigumbura: Maybe 20 more runs could have made the difference. It was going to be difficult for the bowlers because there wasn't much assistance. We could have churned out more singles while batting. It's always good to reach milestones (4000 runs and 100 wickets), but the important thing was to win the game. I thought the wicket played better, the way Shahzad batted showed how easy it was one you got in on this surface.

No prizes for guessing who the Player of the Match is. "Before this series, we had a 14-day fitness camp, perhaps that's done the trick," says Mohammad Shahzad. "The ball didn't come onto the bat, so the plan was to bat till the end. The bowlers did a good job on this surface. Two consecutive wins against a Test team is a proud moment for us."

Just to clarify, a single was completed before the ball went to the boundary. And so the game ends there, even though the ball eventually crossed the line

10:32 pm local Mirwais Ashraf's cameo can't be understated either. Should have been out lbw, but wasn't given. But he cashed in and ensured he was there till the end along with Shahzad as Afghanistan clinched a game they could have won much more comfortably, if not for a batting meltdown. Elton Chigumbura, who doesn't bowl much these days in ODIs, brought himself on to pick up three wickets, but Zimbabwe were to be denied by one man. What a character Shahzad is!

10:30pm local Mohammad Shahzad, take a bow. Kept for 50 overs in the heat, then came out, made a century and carried his bat through in a tough chase, where Afghanistan were challenged at different times. What looked like a cruise suddenly became a little nervy as they lost a clutch of wickets, but Shahzad's steely determination and exuberance has seen them home. The 2-0 lead also means Afghanistan will end 2015 ranked No. 10 in the ICC ODI charts. The Afghanistan flag flies high.

Right, can Shahzad do an MS and finish this off with a six?

Ven: "Except for those nervous 90s.. MS has been impressive in most of his innings.. Clearing ropes with ease at important situations of the game.. Well played!"

Shahzad's eight sixes is the most by a batsman from an Associate team in an innings in ODIs