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Afghanistan wins the series as Rashid’s best performance destroys Zimbabwe
Afghanistan wins the series as Rashid’s best performance destroys Zimbabwe
The legspinner picked up 11 wickets in the match to earn the tourists a win after conceding an 86-run deficit after the first innings.
This could be Rashid Khan only who after performing well in the Dehradun, Chattogram and Abu Dhabi, also wrapped up the game in Bulawayo by scoring 160 runs in 11 wickets. This also includes of best figures such as 66 runs at 7 wickets, and the expectation of an interesting end repeal in just 15 balls into the final morning. For the win, Zimbabwe required a total of 73 runs and all the hopes were on Craig Ervine the captain. Meanwhile, Afghanistan only needed two good balls to finish the game.
Nonetheless, on the fifth day, a small amount of time was enough for all the drama. And the day started just like the way Afghanistan wanted it to be. Rashid bowled to Zimbabwe's No. 10, Richard Ngarava. Four balls into the over, Afghanistan nearly got their wish. Ngarava mistimed a shot off Rashid, sending the ball high behind the silly point fielder. Hashmatullah Shahidi, stationed at cover, moved to his right, while Fareed Ahmad at point shifted to his left.
As Shahidi's focus shifted between the falling ball and the advancing Fareed, he dropped Ngarava. Rashid couldn't hide his frustration, glaring at his captain, who had both hands outstretched but failed to catch the ball. Ngarava survived, but not for long.
Ngarava played out the last two balls of the over to give Ervine the strike for the next. Starting on his overnight score of 53 and as the last recognized batter, Ervine had a spread-out field. After rejecting two singles, he decided to go for a third. He drove Yamin Ahmadzai toward deep extra cover, where the fielder was positioned about three-fourths of the way to the boundary.
Shahidullah chased the ball forward and threw a flat shot to the wicketkeeper. Ngarava, perhaps not expecting Ervine to go for the run so early in the over, was slow to take off. But by the time he moved, Ervine was already well down the pitch. Wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai quickly removed the bails, with Ngarava well short of his ground.
The last man, Blessing Muzarabani, defended the next two balls and left the third alone. Ervine then took strike for the following over, with Zimbabwe still stuck on their overnight score. Rashid bowled short for the first two deliveries but pitched it fuller on the third. The ball landed just outside off, turned in, and hit Ervine in front as he missed a sweep attempt.
Rashid and his teammates immediately appealed, even though umpire Ahsan Raza took a moment before raising his finger. Initially, it looked like the ball might have missed the leg stump, but with no DRS available, the Afghanistan players erupted in celebration.
This victory came after a stunning fightback led by centuries from Rahmat Shah and debutant Ismat Alam in Afghanistan’s second innings, having started 86 runs behind. Rashid also played a key role, contributing vital innings of 25 and 23.
With this win, Afghanistan claimed the two-match series 1-0, following a high-scoring draw in the first Test, while Zimbabwe left the series with wins in all three formats.
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