Afghanistan delivered a commanding performance against Zimbabwe on Thursday, securing a 232-run victory in the second match of their One-Day International (ODI) series.
The first match of the series had been abandoned due to rain earlier this week.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Afghanistan’s openers set the stage with a formidable partnership. Sediqullah Atal scored a stellar 104 off 128 balls, while Abdul Malik contributed an impressive 84 off 101 deliveries. The opening duo carried the team to 191 runs before the first wicket fell, laying a strong foundation for Afghanistan’s innings.
Afghanistan posted a challenging target of 287 runs, putting Zimbabwe under pressure from the outset.
Afghanistan’s bowlers quickly dismantled Zimbabwe’s batting lineup. In the first powerplay, Zimbabwe managed just 45 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Navid Zadran led the attack with three wickets each, while Fazalhaq Farooqi delivered an economical spell, taking two wickets for just 15 runs in six overs.
Zimbabwe’s batting collapsed entirely, with the team being bowled out for 54 runs in just 17.5 overs.
With this victory, Afghanistan has taken a decisive lead in the series. The final match of the three-game ODI series is scheduled for Saturday, where Afghanistan will aim to secure the series win.
