slapped down to mid-off where Raza collects the ball quickly but he loses it when he tries to throw it back quickly and the single is done. Afghanistan take the series 2-1
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 3rd T20I at Harare, ZIM vs AFG, Dec 14 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
3rd T20I, Harare, December 14, 2024, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe
127
(19.3/20 ov, T:128) 128/7
Afghanistan won by 3 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
New
AFG
Full commentary
5.50pm The trophy is handed over, the Afghanistan team takes over with the trophy and there are smiles all over to celebrate the series win. That's all from us today for this game and series, now we wait for the ODIs and two Tests. Hope it was as much fun for you all on our coverage as it was for me, Vishal Dikshit, and Himanshu Agrawal to cover this series decider. Himanshu's report is here already for you to catch up with the missed action. Thanks all, ciao!
Rashid Khan is here with a smile: Quite happy with the series win after losing the first game. The way we came back was great, especially in our fielding which is very key on such big grounds. It's always crucial for you to finish games, especially low-scoring games are tough. The partnership between Azmat and Naib was crucial, but still lots of things to learn from us especially for big games in big events. As a bowler it gives you energy to get wickets before the ODI series. 80-90% of our team is ODI team so they all know how to go about it, they've seen the conditions, and winning always gives you a good vibe in the dressing room.
Sikandar Raza: I personally don't think this is a wicket where you score 12, we needed 150 here. Big boundaries so a lot of good running is required. We played too many big shots to get those runs, we're repeating those mistakes. But I'm hopeful we'll turn it around. I don't think it's mental, the change room is quite relaxed, everyone is backing everyone. We targeted the wrong bowlers at the wrong time. Once the singles dried up, we only tried to get boundaries. the top seven batters had 21 dismissals and majority had the wrong shots at the wrong time. We tried everything and hence the game went to the last over. It's just not meant to be, it's quite difficult to defend 127 and those extras certainly killed us today.
Naveen-ul-Haq is the Player of the Series for his eight wickets in the series: The first couple of games were difficult, today was a bit overcast so the ball was seaming around. The first couple of practice sessions helped us a lot, the first game was a bit tough on us. A challenging series for us, but in the end a good result. As I saw the overcast conditions, we thought the first over would swing. I guess I preferred the lefties to bowl to.
Azmatullah Omarzai is the Player of the Match: Always happy to be the Man of the Match. IT was a tough situation to bat so I tried to stay calm and rotate the strike. It's my job and whenever I get the chance to I try to give 100%.
5.28pm A slim, nervy three-wicket win for Afghanistan in the end after a fiery display of fast bowling from Zimbabwe to try and defend this low total. They were right in the game by bringing the equation down to run a ball and with two crucial wickets from the captain Sikandar Raza but it was Nabi's experience that made the difference in the end. What a new-ball burst of fast bowling from Ngarava and Muzarabani though, reducing Afghanistan to 36 for 3 in the powerplay. Gwandu kept the pressure up by striking with the big wicket of Gurbaz in his first over before a 48-run stand between Naib and Omarzai turned things in Afghanistan's favour and Nabi did the rest.
What didn't help Zimbabwe? A few rash shots that threw the wickets away and those 17 extras (with 16 wides) compared to just seven from Afghanistan. Don't forget that 11-ball over from Faraz Akram that had five wides. Lessons to learn for them, because they came very close to winning their first T20I series against Afghanistan. And they instead slump to their seventh straight bilateral series loss in T20Is.
Azweer : "Congratulations Afghanistan. Keep rocking... ICC tournaments aren't far away..."
Hans: "A T20 match, scoring an aggregate of 257 runs but without a single six, however some big hitters played in both sides. Congrats Afghanistan for winning another series in 2024. Such a great year for Afghan cricket."
Manthan Jain: "Extras cost Zimbabwe..."
Mohammad Nabi In the middle we threw some wickets which put the pressure back on us. But I controlled my nerves. It gives me confidence as a batter. Going into the ODI series, we now know the series, the wicket is not easy, it's a bit up and down. The pitch for the first two games was better, today it was up and down.
19.3
1
M Faraz Akram to M Nabi, 1 run
Scores level now
19.2
2
M Faraz Akram to M Nabi, 2 runs
goes for a big shot over the covers in the air, the field is spread out so it reaches the fielder after a bounce they come back for the second
19.1
4
M Faraz Akram to M Nabi, FOUR runs
Nabi releases the pressure again, he can do it all by himself here. He backs away, the ball follows him and he then adjusts to swat the ball wide of short fine leg in the gap for four
Nabi will be on strike as Mujeeb joins Nabi. Who gets the ball for Zimbabwe, it's Faraz Akram's medium pace over the experience and left-arm spin of Masakadza. The keeper is up, seven to win from six, five men still in the circle
end of over 196 runs • 1 wicket
AFG: 121/7CRR: 6.36 • RRR: 7.00 • Need 7 runs from 6b
Mohammad Nabi17 (15b 2x4)
Trevor Gwandu 4-0-30-2
Sikandar Raza 4-0-19-2
18.6
W
Gwandu to Rashid Khan, OUT
fine leg takes it, the crowd erupts and Zimbabwe are right in the game! Rashid danced down even before the ball was released, he went for a hard-handed pull for the short ball outside off and didn't middle it at all, the ball was skied towards fine leg where Faraz Akram came in to grab it with both hands
Rashid Khan c Faraz Akram b Gwandu 2 (5b 0x4 0x6 6m) SR: 40
The batters come down for a chat before the last ball. Raza also makes some field changes by sending fine leg back and brining midwicket in
18.5
1
Gwandu to M Nabi, 1 run
a bit too straight and it's helped to short fine leg for a quick single
Eight to win from eight now
18.4
4
Gwandu to M Nabi, FOUR runs
finds the gap for four behind square! Some width outside off and Nabi waits before dabbing it late enough to find the gap past short third for four. Clever, smart placement
Raza gives some advice to Gwandu from mid-off
18.3
1
Gwandu to Rashid Khan, 1 run
angling in a bit too much, he clips it away to deep square leg for one
18.2
•
Gwandu to Rashid Khan, no run
stays low, stays very low and there's an lbw appeal after the ball hits a ducking Rashid around his chest, but hardly went above the knee roll! He banged it in short, Rashid took his eyes off the ball and ducked, and the ball angled in to hit him on the body. Two dots in a row
18.1
•
Gwandu to Rashid Khan, no run
he starts with a dot for massive crowd cheers! Short of length and steered to point
13 to get from 12, Zimbabwe are penalised for a slow over rate so only four can stay at the boundary. Gwandu runs in for the 19th over. Who will bowl the last?
end of over 184 runs • 1 wicket
AFG: 115/6CRR: 6.38 • RRR: 6.50 • Need 13 runs from 12b
Rashid Khan1 (1b)
Mohammad Nabi12 (13b 1x4)
Sikandar Raza 4-0-19-2
Blessing Muzarabani 4-1-19-2
Raza is also done for the day with 2 for 19. Two crucial wickets
17.6
1
Raza to Rashid Khan, 1 run
he patiently leans into the ball for a single down to long-off. Keeps strike
14 to get from 13 now, and it's the captain taking strike for the last ball. Rashid Khan
17.5
W
Raza to Azmatullah, OUT
Raza has done it again, and what a time to get the wicket! Omarzai will be so upset with himself. Just 14 needed from 14, he goes for an unnecessary swing across the line from outside off, gets a leading edge that goes high near the pitch and Raza settles under it by keeping his eyes on the ball till the end
Azmatullah Omarzai c & b Sikandar Raza 34 (37b 3x4 0x6 57m) SR: 91.89
17.4
•
Raza to Azmatullah, no run
slightly slower on off stump, he defends it back to Raza
17.3
1
Raza to M Nabi, 1 run
a slingy action this time for the straighter ball, a single down to long-on this time
17.2
1
Raza to Azmatullah, 1 run
turning in a bit too much, worked away off the pads now for one
17.1
1
Raza to M Nabi, 1 run
hint of width outside off and it's driven away for one through the covers
Zimbabwe bring it down to nearly run a ball. Now they need wickets but their gun bowlers are done for the day. Raza continues
end of over 173 runs
AFG: 111/5CRR: 6.52 • RRR: 5.66 • Need 17 runs from 18b
Azmatullah Omarzai33 (34b 3x4)
Mohammad Nabi10 (11b 1x4)
Blessing Muzarabani 4-1-19-2
Sikandar Raza 3-0-15-1
16.6
•
Muzarabani to Azmatullah, no run
a dot to end the over with a similar short-ish ball that is steered to point
16.5
•
Muzarabani to Azmatullah, no run
back of length outside off, not much room and steered to point
16.4
1
Muzarabani to M Nabi, 1 run
Nabi shuffles across for the short of length ball and tucks it behind him to deep fine leg
16.3
•
Muzarabani to M Nabi, no run
a bit straighter and he defends it to midwicket
16.2
1
Muzarabani to Azmatullah, 1 run
on the pads and easily clipped away square for one more
16.1
1
Muzarabani to M Nabi, 1 run
bangs it in short into Nabi who tucks the ball square with a hop, for one
Now it's the last over for Muzarabani. Can he get a wicket or two with the field spread out?
Language
English
Win Probability
AFG 100%
ZIMAFG100%50%100%
Over 20 • AFG 128/7
Afghanistan won by 3 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)Powered by Smart StatsInstant answers to T20 questions
Afghanistan Innings
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