AFG vs ZIM, 2nd ODI Review: Zimbabwe revert in style with a humongous 154-run win

After losing the first game without giving a proper fight, Zimbabwe returned the favor with a gigantic 154-run win at the Sharjah. Their bowlers and batsmen did a splendid job to draw level blood in the series. Senior players Brendan Taylor and Sikandar Raza rose to the occasion and the strong Afghan bowling attack leaked runs heavily.

Batting first, Solomon Mire was dismissed early in the innings. But Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakdza ensured the scoring rate never dipped. Although the innings was not progressing at a brisk pace, the rate was above five and they kept building decent partnerships, something they failed to do in the first ODI and the T20 series.

Taylor completed a scintillating half-century whilst Masakadza fell just short of a fifty. Some miscommunication between him and Taylor led to the downfall of the former. Taylor started to explode ever since that point. He registered a 49-run partnership next up with Craig Ervine, where Ervine scored just 14 runs.

After Ervine departed, the innings hit better heights thanks to Sikandar Raza’s explosive knock. Whilst Taylor registered his 8th ODI ton, Sikandar Raza dealt only with boundaries. The duo added a solid 135-run stand for the fourth wicket, which set a perfect platform for Raza to finish the innings in style. Taylor was eventually dismissed by Rashid Khan after scoring 125 off 121 balls, which included 5 fours and 8 big sixes.

Raza hit nine boundaries and four sixes before getting dismissed for 92. Malcolm Waller and Ryan Burl took Zimbabwe to a mammoth 333/5, which incidentally was the same total registered by Afghanistan in the previous game. They too had lost five wickets. Whilst the spinners went at less than five an over, all the fast bowlers were taken to the cleaners.

Chatara and Cremer seal the deal

Bowlers backing up batsmen’s efforts often result in a win and same was the case with Zimbabwe today. Tendai Chatara bowled one of the best spells of his life to torment the top order, which eventually was a killer blow. After he provided the first breakthrough of Ihsanullah Janat, Mohammad Shahzad walked back in the next over in Vitori’s bowling.

Chata then picked up two priceless wickets in the 8th over the game. He first dismissed skipper Asghar Stanikzai and followed it up with Nasir Jamal’s wicket off the fourth ball of the over. Afghanistan was down and out at 29/4 in 8 overs and just after the powerplay was done, the hero from the previous game Najibullah Zadran was dismissed in the 11th over.

Centurion in the previous game Rahmat Shah and Mohammad Nabi tried to rescue them out of this predicament. They added 53 runs for the 6th wicket, but that only could reduce the margin of defeat. Skipper Graeme Cremer joined the party and provided a sensational finish to the innings with a jaw-dropping spell.

He made a mockery of the Afghan lower order and picked up all the four final wickets. Dawlat Zadran, on the other hand, was playing on a different pitch altogether. Whilst wickets were tumbling at one end, he registered a 29-ball 47 and remained unbeaten. Nevertheless, it wasn’t enough by any stretch of the imagination.

Afghanistan got bowled out for 179 in 30.1 overs. Cremer returned with figures of 4/41, whilst Chatara registered 3/24 in 8 overs. Blessing Muzarabani picked up a brace whilst Brian Vitori picked up the other wicket.

Brief Scores

Zimbabwe: 333/5 in 50 overs (Brendan Taylor 125, Sikandar Raza 92; Rashid Khan 2/36)

Afghanistan: 179 all out in 30.1 overs (Rahmat Shah 43; Graeme Cremer 4/41, Tendai Chatara 3/24)

Player of the match: Brendan Taylor

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