3rd T20I
Mohammad Nabi has secured a nervy win to seal the series for Afghanistan
Zimbabwe scored 127 in 19.5 overs, where as Afghanistan scored 128/7 in 19.3 overs.
So, finally Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 3 wickets.
Veteran Mohammad Nabi delivered when it mattered most, stepping up in the final over to secure a nervy win for Afghanistan and clinch a come-from-behind T20I series victory.
Chasing a modest target of 128, Afghanistan seemed on course for a comfortable victory until a late collapse gave Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope.
However, Nabi took charge in the final over, with his side needing 7 runs to win, and guided them home with three balls to spare.
Zimbabwe began with a strong bowling performance, putting Afghanistan under pressure.
Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava reduced Afghanistan to 9/2 after the first three overs, and although Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit a couple of boundaries, Zimbabwe struck again.
Darwish Rasooli, who had scored a half-century in the previous match, got a leading edge to give Muzarabani his second wicket, leaving Afghanistan at a precarious 36/3 by the end of the powerplay.
The situation worsened quickly for Afghanistan, with the score slipping to 44/4, giving Zimbabwe a real chance of pulling off a stunning win.
However, Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib steadied the ship with a crucial 48-run partnership, putting Afghanistan back on track.
Zimbabwe made a late push, thanks to Sikandar Raza’s brilliant spell, which saw him remove both set batters.
But Nabi released the pressure with a vital boundary in the penultimate over.
Despite Rashid Khan’s dismissal in the same over, Nabi kept his composure and guided Afghanistan past the finish line.
Before Nabi’s finishing heroics, it was Rashid Khan who led a disciplined bowling effort from Afghanistan.
Despite an early breakthrough from Naveen-ul-Haq, Zimbabwe made a solid start, reaching 41/1 after the first five overs.
However, Afghanistan’s spinners took control, with Omarzai removing two key wickets, followed by Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissing Sikandar Raza and Wesley Madhevere.
Rashid Khan, who had been wicketless in his first two overs, then struck back, trapping Farid Khan lbw and taking three wickets in an over to complete an excellent spell.
From 106/9 after 17 overs, Zimbabwe were left with little hope of reaching 128.
Had their middle order not crumbled, they may have had enough to challenge the T20 World Cup semi-finalists.
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