Afghanistan thrash Zimbabwe to clinch ODI tri-series title

A clinical all-round performance helped Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the ODI tri-series final in the UAE. Rashid Khan bagged three wickets, while Mohammad Nabi, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Bilal Sami picked up two apiece as they bundled Zimbabwe out for 169 despite Sikandar Raza's 68. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the chase with an unbeaten 70 off 96 balls, receiving support from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (36) and Rahmat Shah (43), as Afghanistan reached the target in 34.3 overs to complete an unbeaten run through the tri-series.

Brian Bennett made a few boundaries after Zimbabwe chose to bat, but he didn't say much else. He was eventually defeated by Azmatullah Omarzai with a 21-ball nine. Farooqi had Tadiwanashe Marumani bowled before Bennett's departure and also sent Tafadzwa Tsiga back cheaply, reducing Zimbabwe to 26 for 3 in the seventh over. Sami then accounted for Brendan Taylor, who edged an innocuous delivery behind, as Zimbabwe slipped to 55 for 4.

Raza and Ryan Burl started the work on the repair, navigating Afghanistan's disciplined attack and gradually finding scoring opportunities. Burl contributed with 31 runs off 45 deliveries, while Raza scored his 27th ODI fifty. Zimbabwe had a chance to win with their 60-run partnership before Nabi broke it by getting Burl caught at deep square leg. Soon after, Nabi had Wessly Madhevere stumped, taking his 300th wicket for the international team.

Raza tried to keep the innings together as wickets fell at the other end. But Rashid took over, trapping Brad Evans lbw and bowling Newman Nyamhuri before ending Raza's resistance by having him caught at long-off, soon after the batter had hit him for a six. Before Sami finally broke through and bowled Zimbabwe out in the 44th over, Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza's stubborn last-wicket stand of 32 runs irked Afghanistan.

Gurbaz and Zadran, Afghanistan's openers, attacked Zimbabwe's bowlers alongside Afghanistan's openers to get the chase off to a good start. Gurbaz struck four fours and two sixes in his 31-ball knock before Nyamhuri had him caught at backward point. Sediqullah Atal also fell to Nyamhuri for six, but Zadran kept the innings on course, bringing up a well-paced half-century. As Afghanistan steadily advanced toward the target, Rahmat provided solid support from the other end.

The third wicket pair added 82 before Rahmat's 63-ball stay ended when Wessly Madhevere pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at mid-wicket. But the breakthrough came too late to alter the outcome. Hashmatullah Shahidi joined Zadran and the pair completed the chase with ease. Shahidi cut Madhevere for a four in the 35th over to seal Afghanistan's tri-series title with seven wickets in hand.