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Afghanistan Crushes Zimbabwe by 37 Runs in T20I Opener
29 Oct
Summary
- Afghanistan recovered from an early collapse to post 177 runs.
- Ijaz Ahmadzai's explosive 52 off 22 balls turned the game.
- Zimbabwe fell short, bowled out for 140 in the T20I match.
Afghanistan commenced their T20I series against Zimbabwe with a decisive 37-run win in Sharjah. Following an initial batting collapse that saw them at 45/4, Afghanistan staged a strong recovery. Shahidullah Kamal anchored the innings with 46, but it was Ijaz Ahmadzai's explosive 52 off just 22 balls that truly shifted momentum.
Rashid Khan then provided a spectacular finish, smashing 30 off 10 deliveries to propel Afghanistan to a total of 177. In response, Zimbabwe's chase faltered as they lost wickets consistently. Ryan Burl was their top scorer with 32, but no other batsman could provide sustained support.
Zimbabwe was eventually bowled out for 140 in 19.1 overs, handing Afghanistan a significant victory in the opening match of the series. The Afghanistan bowlers applied pressure throughout, ensuring the target remained out of reach for the visiting side.