short of length outside off, goes for the reverse pull but fails to connect
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.
short of length around off, backs away and throws his bat at it. Bounces towards short extra cover
short of length outside off, backs away and lobs it over covers
slower short one outside off. Tiripano was backing away and couldn't reach to the ball in the end
short of length outside off, pulls it towards wide long-on. One bounce to the fielder
moves across and scoops it over short fine leg and it carries all the way for a six
Fareed Ahmad, around the wicket
short of length outside off, pulls it towards deep square leg
fuller outside off, drives it towards sweeper cover
length ball down the leg side, misses the flick but gets a leg-bye
a brilliant yorker on the leg stump, looks to hit it on the leg side but gets an inside edge on to the pads
slower length ball outside off, pulls it towards wide long-on
starts with a full delivery outside off, pushed towards covers
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.
fuller outside off, pushed square of the wicket, beats the point fielder for a couple
length outside off, cuts it towards cover-point
fuller on the stumps, goes for the slog sweep and misses. Is hit right in front of the middle, low on the pads. And that's an easy decision for the umpire
fuller on the stumps, pushes it towards long-on
castled. It's another googly. Goes for the slog sweep and misses it completely
googly but pitching on length and spinning down
googly around off, flicked towards backward square leg and they are looking to come back for the second. Sent back in time as the short fine leg was quick to the ball and firs the throw to the keeper, who whips the bails off. But Mutumbami just made it
slower one, short outside off. Steers it between the short third man and the wicketkeeper
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | |
Toss | Zimbabwe, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2020/21 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | Afghanistan led the 3-match series 1-0 |
Match number | T20I no. 1134 |
Hours of play (local time) | 14.00 start, First Session 14.00-15.30, Interval 15.30-15.50, Second Session 15.50-17.20 |
Match days | 17 March 2021 - day (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |