Afghanistan thrash Zimbabwe in Sharjah T20 opener

KABUL thrashed Zimbabwe in their first Twenty/20 clash on Monday, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series in Sharjah.

After winning the toss, the Afghans decided to field and restricted the Zimbabweans to 120 total for nine wickets. Rashid Khan took three wickets and Sharfuddin and Aftab Alam shared two each.

In response, Afghanistan easily chased the 121 runs target in the 15th over with five wickets in hand. Mohammad Nabi made 40 quick runs off 27 balls

Karim Sadiq perished for five but his partner wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad, who returned after serving a ban for a doping code violation, gave Afghanistan’s chase a flying start

Shahzad top edged a four and smacked two big sixes in his 11-ball stay of 20 before bottom edging one to the keeper.

Stanikzai and Sharafuddin then fell victim to Chatara and Burl respectively as Afghanistan went into the 12th over at 85 for 5, but an unbeaten 36-run sixth-wicket partnership between Mohammad Nabi (40*) and Shafiqullah (14*) ensured Afghanistan chased the target down with more than five overs to spare.

Nabi hit four fours and three sixes in his 27-ball innings while Shafiqullah hit one apiece as Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

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