Zimbabwe stuns Afghanistan in thrilling T20 opener

HARARE: Zimbabwe took a 1-0 lead in their three-match T20 series against Afghanistan, sealing a dramatic last-ball victory in the opening match in Harare.  

The hosts secured a four-wicket win as they chased a target of 145 runs. Tashinga Musekiwa hit the winning runs off the final ball.

Earlier, Afghanistan posted a total of 144 runs in their allotted 20 overs at a loss of six wickets. Karim Janat scored the highest with a unbeaten 54.

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Richard Ngarava was the standout bowler for Zimbabwe, as he tok three wickets while yielding 28 runs.

In the run chase, Brian Bennet’s 49 laid a solid foundation for Zimbabwe, but they faced a nail-biting finish as the match went down.

Afghan captain, Rashid Khan, conceded defeat and that his team fell short with the bat. “We were 15-17 runs short. Nabi and Karim played really well in the middle, but we lost too many wickets early on and that cost us”.

The second T20 match between the Afghanistan and Zimbabwe is scheduled for Friday.