Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Match summary — Afghanistan 129 for 3 (Ibrahim 57*, Evans 2-21) beat Zimbabwe 125 (Raza 37, Rashid 3-9. Mujeeb 2-26, Abdollah 2-28) by seven wickets
ZIMBABWE’S quest to save the three-match T20 International series ended prematurely yesterday at the Harare Sports Club, as the hosts succumbed to a clinical seven-wicket defeat against a dominant Afghanistan side.
The loss puts the tourists 2-0 up, rendering tomorrow’s final fixture a dead rubber, but the real concern for the Chevrons is a chronic batting collapse that has plagued their performance and left the team searching for answers.
For the second time in three days, the Zimbabwean batting line-up failed to cope with the spin and pace of the visiting bowlers.
Chasing victory after losing the first T20I by 53 runs, the home side was dismissed for a paltry 125, following Wednesday’s equally disappointing 127 all-out.
Not a single Zimbabwean batter has managed to register a half-century across the two matches, underscoring a deep-seated frailty in the top order.
The disappointment was palpable in the Zimbabwe camp, with coach Justin Sammons pointing directly to a failure in execution and, more significantly, a detrimental mindset.
“We’ve let ourselves down and we know what we have within our change room,” Sammons stated, confirming the post-match discussions focused heavily on attitude.
“We’ve spoken about it now and it’s now about going and applying the brand of cricket that we’re looking to play again.”
Sammons was critical of the team’s approach in the second encounter, contrasting it negatively with their fight in the first game.
“I think we’ve been rather tentative in our approach, particularly today.
“It was more a mindset.
“So I think we were very tentative in our approach through that phase.”
He noted that even after losing early wickets in the first game, they maintained a positive outlook through the middle overs.
“Funny enough, the first game, we had lost those wickets in the power play and sometimes that happens.
“But we approached it still in a positive manner through the middle.
“So I think that was the biggest disappointment from today.”
On the pitch, Afghanistan’s victory was set up by a disciplined bowling performance, limiting the hosts to their low total.
Mujeeb-ur-Rahman stifled the top order, dismissing opener Dion Myers and Brendan Taylor in the powerplay.
Myers swept Mujeeb straight to short fine, an example of good plan, bad execution, while Taylor fell trying to exploit field restrictions.
The pressure intensified with the introduction of 22-year-old fast bowler Abdollah Ahmadzai, who troubled batters with bounce, forcing a wicket when Ryan Burl succumbed to a well-directed short ball.
Skipper Sikandar Raza (37) attempted to shepherd the innings forward, but the highest partnership of the innings was just 24 runs.
The inevitable then occurred when Player of the Match and captain Rashid Khan picked up the ball in the 17th over.
Having only bowled one over previously due to a hand injury, the leg-spinner returned to knock over the resilient Raza before running through the tail, finishing with figures of 3/9.
This setup a straightforward chase, which Afghanistan completed with seven wickets to spare, thanks to Ibrahim Zadran’s back-to-back T20I fifty (57*).
For the victorious captain, the series win was a satisfying, yet necessary, stepping stone.
Khan acknowledged the achievement but was quick to shift focus to the broader goal of the upcoming World Cup.
“Well, definitely always happy to win the series,” the captain remarked.
“But still, the same, you know, we having very few games before the World Cup.
“This is the three games we have before the World Cup. We don’t have much time.”
Rashid emphasised the need for positive momentum and learning from past disappointments, specifically citing their failure to qualify for the next round in the recent Asia Cup.
He stressed that the series victory provides the necessary positive energy and positive momentum that can be carried forward.
“The kind of discussion was there with the boys.
“We need to have the World Cup in the mind.
“We are not here just to play three rounds and go back.
“We need to go with the proper mindset and proper preparation and proper practice we get.
“And that’s how we can only be better in the World Cup.”
Zimbabwe faces their last opportunity tomorrow to restore some pride and, more importantly, address the fundamental issues plaguing their batting before their next international assignment
They head off to Pakistan for another T20 triseries against the hosts and Sri Lanka as they prepare for the T20 World Cup.
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