the wild slog doesn't go where he intended, but he still manages to beat mid-on to the boundary. Shahzad starts off on his celebratory jig. The normally subdued Inzamam is all smiles. The entire team is on their feet. Zimbabwe absolutely gutted. What a thriller this has been
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 2nd ODI at Sharjah, Dec 29 2015 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
2nd ODI (D/N), Sharjah, December 29, 2015, Zimbabwe tour of United Arab Emirates
253/7
(47.4/50 ov, T:254) 254/6
Afghanistan won by 4 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)
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AFG
Full 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.
47.4
1
Jongwe to Shahzad, 1 run
47.3
4
Jongwe to Shahzad, FOUR runs
length ball on off, he backs away and slaps it over cover. That now is the highest score by an Afghanistan batsman in ODIs
Right, can Shahzad do an MS and finish this off with a six?
47.2
2
Jongwe to Shahzad, 2 runs
gets a thick inside edge as the slog rolls into the gap between deep midwicket and wide long-on. The 50 partnership is up too
47.2
1w
Jongwe to Shahzad, 1 wide
full but sprays it down leg, looking to follow the batsman, unsuccessful
47.1
•
Jongwe to Shahzad, no run
Ashraf wanted the single, Shahzad sent him back, could have been chaotic if the fielder running in from point hit direct at the non-striker's end
end of over 4713 runs
AFG: 246/6CRR: 5.23 • RRR: 2.66
Mirwais Ashraf26 (27b 1x4 2x6)
Mohammad Shahzad124 (129b 6x4 8x6)
Taurai Muzarabani 7-0-37-0
Graeme Cremer 9-0-49-1
46.6
6
Muzarabani to Mirwais, SIX runs
slower ball and he's picked his spot to perfection. It was right in the slot for Ashraf to unfurl the big hit, he swung clean and picked the gap at cow corner. Afghanistan inch ever so close to a 2-0 lead
46.5
2
Muzarabani to Mirwais, 2 runs
firm drive, the cover fielder managed a half-stop and the deflection rolled towards long-off, that allowed them to complete the second
46.4
•
Muzarabani to Mirwais, no run
right into the blockhole from wide of the crease, keeps that out
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!"
46.3
4
Muzarabani to Mirwais, FOUR runs
squeezed away behind point, no one in the deep and that's four more to the total.
46.2
1
Muzarabani to Shahzad, 1 run
low full toss outside off, slapped to deep cover where Sikandar Raza moves swiftly to fire a rocket throw
46.1
•
Muzarabani to Shahzad, no run
full and just a touch outside off, Shahzad plays an ugly swipe, but can't connect
end of over 468 runs
AFG: 233/6CRR: 5.06 • RRR: 5.25
Mirwais Ashraf14 (23b 1x6)
Mohammad Shahzad123 (127b 6x4 8x6)
Graeme Cremer 9-0-49-1
Wellington Masakadza 9-0-42-0
45.6
•
Cremer to Mirwais, no run
padded away back down the pitch
45.5
•
Cremer to Mirwais, no run
plays and misses, squared up by sharp turn
Shahzad's eight sixes is the most by a batsman from an Associate team in an innings in ODIs
45.4
1
Cremer to Shahzad, 1 run
gets forward and turns it across the line towards long-on
45.3
6
Cremer to Shahzad, SIX runs
tossed up over his eye-line and Shahzad says 'thank you very much.' Makes room, generates enough power, swings through the line and crashes that over long-off. Picked the bones out of that one
45.2
1
Cremer to Mirwais, 1 run
frees his arms and thumps it to long-off
45.1
•
Cremer to Mirwais, no run
spins away from middle, he gets an inside edge as he looks to defend
end of over 457 runs
AFG: 225/6CRR: 5.00 • RRR: 5.80
Mohammad Shahzad116 (125b 6x4 7x6)
Mirwais Ashraf13 (19b 1x6)
Wellington Masakadza 9-0-42-0
Elton Chigumbura 7-0-32-3
44.6
•
Masakadza to Shahzad, no run
looks to step out and go over midwicket, but can't generate power off the bottom hand, rolls to the midwicket fielder. Get the feeling that Shahzad is starting to cramp a bit
44.5
1
Masakadza to Mirwais, 1 run
steps out and biffs that across the line to wide long-on
44.4
•
Masakadza to Mirwais, no run
defended to the cover fielder
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