Teenager Ghazanfar spins Afghanistan to ODI series win in Zimbabwe

HARARE: Teenage spinner AM Ghazanfar took 5-33 as Afghanistan defeated hosts Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the third and final one-day international on Saturday to claim the series 2-0 after the opening game was washed out by rain.

After electing to field first, Afghanistan took advantage of Zimbabwe’s brittle batting line-up to bowl the home side out for 127 in 30.1 overs, with Ghazanfar, 18, and Rashid Khan (3-38) leading the way. Sean Williams top scored with 60.

Zimbabwe were dismissed for 54 in the second ODI, so it was an improvement, but never a total to trouble the tourists, who cruised to their victory target for the loss of two wickets in 26.5 overs at the Harare Sports Club.

Opener Sediqullah Atal scored 52 from 50 balls after making 104 in the second fixture.

The teams will now play a two-match test series starting on Thursday, which includes Zimbabwe’s first home Boxing Day test since a draw with England in 1996, and just their fourth ever.

Also read: Champions Trophy: Tentative schedule revealed

On Tuesday, heavy rain led to the abandonment of the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan first one-day international (ODI) at the Harare Sports Club.

Afghanistan won the toss and put the hosts into bat but it took four hours before any play was possible, with the game by then reduced to a 28 overs per side.

Azmatullah Omarzai took 4-18 in 4.2 overs as the visitors made good inroads to have Zimbabwe 44-5 in the 10th over before the rain returned and ended hope of further play.

In their final Twenty20 international on Saturday, Afghanistan edged Zimbabwe with three balls to spare to win the series 2-1 after scoring 128-7 in reply to Zimbabwe’s 127.

Mohamed Nabi’s unbeaten 24 got the visitors over the line to win the last of the three matches at the Harare Sports Club.

Zimbabwe were put into bat after Afghanistan won the toss and had another poor outing with the bat, having been skittled out for 103 in the second game of the three-match series on Friday.