Zimbabwe have won the toss and have opted to field.
AFG beat ZIM 1st T20 Result: Rashid, Gurbaz, and Asghar shine, Afghanistan crushes Zimbabwe by 48 runs, ZIM-150/7 (20)- Batting first, Afghanistan set a huge 198-run total for Zimbabwe. But Zimbabwe could only manage 150/7 as they lost the 1st T20I by 48 runs.
Gurbaz’s early destruction of 87 runs from 45 balls gave Afghanistan the momentum before captain Asghar Afghan played a 38-ball 55-run knock. That ensured Afghanistan posted a monumental target for Zimbabwe.
Chasing such a huge target, Zimbabwe lost an early wicket. While Tinashe Kamunhukamwe and skipper Sean Williams managed to provide stability, after the latter was dismissed, Zimbabwe continued losing wickets in regular intervals. Rashid Khan was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 28 runs.
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20 Afghanistan crushes Zimbabwe by 48 runsScore:
Zimbabwe innings: 150/7 in 20 overs; lost by 48 runs
| Batsmen | R | B | 4S | 6S | SR | |
| Tinashe Kamunhukamwe | b Rashid Khan | 44 | 37 | 4 | 0 | 118.92 |
| Tarisai Musakanda | c (sub Ibrahim Zadran) b Farid Malik | 18 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 128.57 |
| Sean Williams (C) | c Hashmatullah Shahidi b Karim Janat | 22 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 110.00 |
| Sikandar Raza | c (sub Ibrahim Zadran) b Farid Malik | 22 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 157.14 |
| Ryan Burl | b Karim Janat | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Richmond Mutumbami (WK) | b Rashid Khan | 15 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Wesley Madhevere | lbw b Rashid Khan | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Donald Tiripano | Not out | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Brandon Mavuta | Not out | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 125.00 |
| Extra | 9 (b 4, w 2, nb 0, lb 3) | |||||
| Total | 150/7 (20) | |||||
| Yet To Bat | B Muzarabani, R Ngarava | |||||
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Amir Hamza | 3 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 6.33 |
| Fareed Malik | 4 | 0 | 31 | 2 | 7.75 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 2 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Karim Janat | 4 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 3.50 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 7.00 |
| Fall Of Wickets | FOW | Over |
| TK Musakanda | 1-38 | 4.5 |
| SC Williams | 2-83 | 10.3 |
| TS Kamunhukamwe | 3-106 | 13.1 |
| RP Burl | 4-111 | 14.3 |
| Sikandar Raza | 5-124 | 16.2 |
| R Mutumbami | 6-132 | 17.2 |
| W Madhevere | 7-134 | 17.4 |
Afghanistan Innings 198/5 (20 ov)
| Batsmen | R | B | 4S | 6S | SR | |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK) | c DT Tiripano b RP Burl | 87 | 45 | 6 | 7 | 193.33 |
| Karim Janat | c R Mutumbami b R Ngarava | 26 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Asghar Afghan (C) | c Sikandar Raza b B Muzarabani | 55 | 38 | 6 | 2 | 144.74 |
| Mohammad Nabi | c B Mavuta b R Ngarava | 7 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 63.64 |
| Rashid Khan | c R Mutumbami b B Muzarabani | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 233.33 |
| Najibullah Zadran | Not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Usman Ghani | Not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extra | 16 (b 0, w 12, nb 0, lb 4) | |||||
| Total | 198/5 (20) | |||||
| Yet To Bat | Hashmatullah Shahidi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Amir Hamza, Farid Malik | |||||
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON |
| Sikandar Raza | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 8.00 |
| Richard Ngarava | 4 | 0 | 43 | 2 | 10.75 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 4 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Donald Tiripano | 4 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 11.50 |
| Sean Williams | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 |
| Brandon Mavuta | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6.50 |
| Ryan Burl | 3 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 8.00 |
After an end to an exciting test series that resulted in parity, it’s time for the shorter version of the game. Clearly, Afghanistan is in the pole position going into the series but Zimbabwe can’t be rubbed off either with some exciting bunch of players in their ranks. Afghanistan will be keenly interested in the series considering that the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup are lined-up for the year.
Match Details
Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Tarisai Musakanda, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Sean Williams(c), Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Richmond Mutumbami(w), Ryan Burl, Donald Tiripano, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Karim Janat, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Amir Hamza, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fareed Malik
