Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 158 runs – ODI Report
Afghanistan won by 158 runs in the 16th match of 24 in the Tri-Nation Series at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Sediqullah Atal struck a commanding 102 off 110 balls to anchor Afghanistan’s innings, while Rashid Khan delivered a masterclass with both bat and ball to seal a comprehensive win that keeps Afghanistan’s tournament hopes alive.
Afghanistan’s Batting Dominance
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided early impetus with 25 off 20 balls (3 fours, 1 six) before falling clean bowled at 50/1 in the 7th over. Ibrahim Zadran then took centre stage, crafting a measured 90 off 96 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes) at a strike rate of 94 to stabilise the innings.
The real catalyst came from Sediqullah Atal, who produced a composed century – 102 off 110 balls (8 fours, 1 six) – to propel Afghanistan towards a commanding total. Atal and Zadran shared a crucial 69-run partnership that took the score from 190/2 in the 31st over to 259/3 by the 44th. Hashmatullah Shahidi added 28 off 30 to provide late-order ballast, while Rashid Khan struck 8 off 7 with two boundaries to accelerate the final overs. Afghanistan finished on 294 all out in 50 overs.
Brad Evans was Zimbabwe’s standout bowler with 3/48 from 10 overs, while Ernest Masuku claimed 3/44 from 8 and Blessing Muzarabani took 2/68 from 9. Sikandar Raza chipped in with 1/54 from 10 overs.
Zimbabwe’s Chase Collapses
Zimbabwe’s chase never gained traction. Brian Bennett made 31 off 40 (4 fours, 1 six) but fell LBW at 43/1 in the 12th over. Ben Curran was dismissed for a duck in the 2nd over, clean bowled, leaving Zimbabwe in early trouble at 13/2.
Sikandar Raza mounted a brief resistance with 48 off 80 balls (3 fours, 1 six), but the required run rate climbed steadily. Ryan Burl contributed 31 off 63 in a 17-run partnership with Raza, but Zimbabwe’s middle order crumbled. Brad Evans struck 14 off 10 (1 four, 1 six) in a brief cameo before being caught at 134/8 in the 36th over, but it proved too little too late. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 136 in 38.4 overs.
Afghanistan’s Bowling Masterclass
Rashid Khan was the architect of Zimbabwe’s collapse, taking 4/17 from 8 overs at an economy of 2.13 – a performance of exceptional control and precision. Fazalhaq Farooqi supported with 2/15 from 5 overs, while AM Ghazanfar claimed 1/21 from 7. Mohammad Nabi took 1/37 from 7.4 overs as Afghanistan’s spinners strangled Zimbabwe’s batting throughout the chase.
Statz MVP: Rashid Khan (Statz Rating: 167.18)
Rashid Khan earns the Statz MVP award with a rating of 167.18 – a dominant all-round display that defined the match. His 4/17 from 8 overs was miserly and match-winning, conceding just 2.13 runs per over while dismantling Zimbabwe’s chase. Khan also contributed 8 runs with the bat off 7 balls, striking at 114. His combined impact across both disciplines was the decisive factor in Afghanistan’s commanding victory.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Rashid Khan (AFG) – Statz Rating: 167.18 | 4/17 from 8 overs (economy 2.13) plus 8 runs with the bat. Masterclass all-round performance that sealed the match.
- Brad Evans (ZIM) – Statz Rating: 136.02 | 3/48 from 10 overs with the ball plus 14 off 10 (1 four, 1 six) in the chase. Zimbabwe’s standout performer in defeat.
- Ernest Masuku (ZIM) – Statz Rating: 98.05 | 3/44 from 8 overs with the ball. Took crucial wickets but couldn’t prevent the collapse.
- Sikandar Raza (ZIM) – Statz Rating: 83.87 | 48 off 80 balls (3 fours, 1 six) in the chase. Fought hard but lacked support from the lower order.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG) – Statz Rating: 67.45 | 2/15 from 5 overs at economy 3.0. Economical and effective in support of Rashid Khan’s spell.
Turning Point
The match turned decisively when Sikandar Raza was clean bowled by Rashid Khan at 124/5 in the 35th over. Raza had been Zimbabwe’s sole resistance, striking at 60, and his dismissal exposed the fragile lower order. From that point, Zimbabwe’s chase unravelled rapidly, with Ryan Burl (31 off 63) unable to accelerate the required rate. Afghanistan’s spinners maintained relentless pressure, and Zimbabwe never recovered.
Match Context
This was the 16th match of 24 in the Tri-Nation Series. Afghanistan’s commanding 158-run victory keeps them competitive in the tournament, while Zimbabwe’s heavy defeat – despite entering as the unbeaten side in the UAE leg – represents a significant setback. The margin of victory underscores Afghanistan’s all-round strength, with batting depth and bowling control proving decisive at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. See the full scorecard and H2H on Statz for complete match statistics.
