Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I at Abu Dhabi, AFG v ZIM, Mar 17 2021 - Ball by Ball Commentary

That's all from our side for this game. See you soon.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the Player of the Match.

Gurbaz: If you start like that, it looks good for the series. So I am really happy. I was trying to play for the team and not for myself. Hopefully, I will get a hundred in the next game.

Asghar Afghan: The first game of the series is very important. If you win, the morale is high. Today Rahmanullah and Janat partnership was good and later on I saw the ball and played my shots. In T20 cricket, our bowlers have lot of experience as they play lots of league and today also they showed it.

Sean Williams: Winning the toss was a big thing but Gurbaz batted really well. Hit the ball really cleanly and fast. His opening partner played a crucial role as well and then skipper too. Our execution with the ball was poor and tt was very difficult to come back from that. We haven't had much training leading into the T20I series but our death bowling was really good.

Time for the presentation ceremony.

Rashid Khan: It was a good win for us, it's always nice to start the series with a win. Asghar and Co did well with the bat and we just kept it simple with the ball. Hamza has the experience with the new ball. So it's always good to have that kind of back-up with Mujeeb not there. As a bowler, you need a good total on the board and when you have 160-plus or 170-plus, it makes it easier for you.

5.24pm A thumping 48-run win for Afghanistan even though Zimbabwe showed fight with the bat. But it was their bowlers who had let them down in the first half, allowing Afghanistan to post a mammoth 198 for 5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the star of the game, scoring 87 off just 45 balls, hitting seven sixes and six fours during his stay.

Fareed Ahmad, around the wicket

Sampath points out that Mohammad Nabi hasn't picked a wicket in his last 12 T20I innings, the longest wicketless streak for any player in this format.