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AFG vs ZIM: In a thrilling turnaround, the Afghanistan cricket team staged a remarkable counterattack in the second T20 match of their series against Zimbabwe, securing a resounding 50-run victory.
This win not only avenged their heartbreaking loss in the first match, where they were defeated off the final ball but also leveled the series at 1-1, setting the stage for a decisive third encounter.
Afghanistan Sets a Competitive Total
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch that offered some assistance to the bowlers. They scored 153 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The Afghan batting lineup, despite a few hiccups, managed to put together a competitive score.
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The key contribution came from Darwish Rasooli, who struck a solid knock of 58 runs and anchored the innings with proper strokes. Azmatullah Omarzai also provided 28 crucial runs. Gulbadin Naib gave 23 runs to bolster the middle order.
The Zimbabweans Struggle at Chase, AFG vs ZIM
Zimbabwe could chase down 154 in their batting line-up. The Afghan bowlers, led by the classy Rashid Khan and fiery Naveen Ul Haq, kept Zimbabwe on the back foot throughout the chase. Only the efforts of captain Sikandar Raza and middle-order batter Brian Bennett seemed to offer any resistance.
Raza top-scored for Zimbabwe with 35 runs, while Bennett made a valuable contribution of 27 runs. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to fire, and Zimbabwe was eventually bowled out for a mere 103 runs, failing to cross the target by a mile.
Strong Bowling Effort by Afghanistan in 2nd T20 AFG vs ZIM
The bowling lineup of Afghanistan was in its best form, with the batsmen executing their plans on the field with perfection and artistry. The captain of Afghanistan, Rashid Khan, bowled a spell to remember, taking 3 wickets for just 20 runs in his 4 overs. Naveen Ul Haq was equally impressive, taking 3 wickets for the mere cost of 19 runs in his 4-over spell.
The two boys ran amok and pushed Zimbabwe into a precarious spot early in their chase. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who is known to be deceptive with his spin, also chipped in with 2 wickets, and Amatullah Umarzai and Farid Ahmed Malik with one each. Thus, Afghanistan’s bowling unit made sure that Zimbabwe had very little chance of chasing the target.
A Comprehensive Afghanistan Victory, AFG vs ZIM
This comprehensive win portrayed Afghanistan’s all-round strengths in both batting and bowling. Even though their total was 153, it is the clinical bowling performance of Afghanistan that set the tone for this match. The Zimbabwean batsmen had no answer to the variety and accuracy that Afghanistan bowlers could provide to them. The hosts could not have asked for worse as they were bundled out for a meager 103.
With the series now level at 1-1, the third and final T20 match will be a crucial decider. Both teams will be looking to seize the advantage and claim victory in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the series. For Afghanistan, this victory was a statement of intent, and they will enter the final match with renewed confidence after their dominant all-round performance.
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