Match summary - Afghanistan 180 for 6 (Zadran 52, Gurbaz 39, Raza 3-20) beat Zimbabwe 127 (Maposa 32, Mujeeb 4-20, Omarzai 3-29) by 53 runs
ZIMBABWE’S hope of building on their recent Test match victory evaporated quickly, as the Chevrons stumbled to a comprehensive 53-run defeat against Afghanistan in the first T20 International at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The loss puts the hosts 1-0 down in the three-match series against an opponent that continues their remarkable dominance, having never lost a T20I series against the African side and now securing their 17th win in 19 T20Is against Zimbabwe.
Afghanistan’s approach was clear, producing an emphatic performance with both bat and ball that put Zimbabwe on the back foot from the outset.
Ibrahim Zadran’s measured half-century (52) and a strong finish from the middle and lower order propelled the visitors to a formidable total of 180 for 6.
After a slow start, openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (39) and Ibrahim accelerated sharply, racing to 63 without loss by the end of the powerplay.
Though a middle-overs stutter, primarily engineered by Sikandar Raza’s excellent 3 for 20, briefly pegged them back, all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai (27) and Shahidullah (22 not out) ensured a powerful finish, taking 50 runs off the last four overs.
The hosts’ chase was a disaster, especially within a horror powerplay, where they lost five wickets — the most they have ever lost in that phase in T20Is.
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The top order simply imploded.
Opener Tadiwanashe Marumani, veteran Brendan Taylor and Ryan Burl all departed for a duck, while Sikandar Raza managed just 1 run.
The architect of the collapse was spin wizard Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who struck off his second delivery to dismiss Marumani lbw for a two-ball duck, before following up with a disguised carrom ball to send Taylor back for a golden duck.
Omarzai, later returning to complete a figures of 3 for 29, chipped in with the wickets of Raza and Burl.
Only an opening burst of 24 off 13 balls from Brian Bennett offered a flicker of hope.
Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 127, with the only substantial resistance coming from the lower order.
Young bowler Tinotenda Maposa emerged as a silver lining on a dark day, shining with the bat at number nine, scoring a blazing 32 runs off just 15 balls as part of a fighting partnership with Brad Evans.
Maposa spoke about the team’s struggles and his own potential after the match:
“I think it started off bad, actually with the bowling because I think the powerplay went for a lot of runs. But in some instances, it was nice to get it back and Raza actually came in to bowl,” he reflected.
“But nevertheless, the batting also, the wickets came in, we lost a lot of wickets first half. But me and Brad actually tried to bring it back and the fight was there.”
Addressing his aggressive batting display, the young star expressed belief in his abilities:
“People usually doubt my batting abilities, but I think I also doubt myself sometimes.
“But I feel like I still have something in me to lift the team up and score some runs and win matches for the team.
“I’ve done it again and I feel like I can still do it for the team in the future.”
He also noted that the target of 180 was well within reach:
“A target of 180 is actually gettable.
“With the wicket, the way it was played, it was a flat track.
“It was actually better to get up. We lost a few wickets early up with the faster openings and all that.
“But yeah, it was actually a good batting wicket to actually get to that 180.”
Maposa concluded with an optimistic look towards the future, noting the hard work he's putting in: “The coach has been working with me, being hard on me a lot.
“So I’ve been trying to actually play that role and I’m hoping in the next coming years I’ll actually be one of the best in the country.”
The Chevrons will need a drastic turnaround in performance, particularly from their top order, if they hope to level the series when the two teams meet again tomorrow for the second T20I.
