Afghanistan bowler Noor Ahmad (File photo)
Afghanistan completed a 3-0 sweep of Zimbabwe in the T20I series after beating them by seven wickets in the third and final match in Sharjah on Sunday. Noor Ahmad led the bowling effort with his maiden five-wicket haul, taking 5/13 in 3.3 overs as Zimbabwe were bowled out for just 79 in under 15 overs.
However, Noor’s spell left them with a target of only 80, which they reached in 8.1 overs, with seven wickets to spare. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed openers Innocent Kaia and Brian Bennett in successive overs, before Abdullah Tarakhail removed Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza to leave the visitors struggling at 13/3 in the fourth over. However, Zadran remained unbeaten on 25 while Omarzai scored 18 not out as the pair guided Afghanistan to victory. In the second T20I, Omarzai scored 116 off 50 balls to help his team beat Zimbabwe by 19 runs. Raza’s 106 off 56 deliveries was not enough to take Zimbabwe across the line. The two teams will now turn their attention to the longer format, with a two-match Test series scheduled to begin on November 5.
Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran had opted to bowl, hoping to test his team’s chasing ability. Afghanistan made an early impact after choosing to bowl. Afghanistan had already secured the series after winning the first two matches.