Afghanistan have advanced to the Super 10 stage of ICC World Twenty20 with a thumping win over full ICC member Zimbabwe by 59 runs played at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur on Saturday.
Afghanistan 186 for 6 (Nabi 52, Shenwari 43, Panyangara 3-32) defeated Zimbabwe 127 (Rashid 3-11, Hamid 2-11) by 59 runs
Afghanistan posted a mammoth 186 runs with the loss of six wickets after winning the toss. Thanks to Mohammad Nabi who scored career best 52 off 32 deliveries and to his partner Samiullah Shenwari 43 off 37. The duo produced a match winning partnership of 98 runs for the fifth wicket.
Earlier, Opener Mohammad Shahzad once again gave a brisk start to Afghanistan with 23 balls 40 runs including 7 fours and a six. There were 25 extras given by Zimbabwean bowlers at the end of the innings.
Tinashe Panyangara was the pick of the bowlers taking 3/32 in his 4 overs.
Zimbabwe were bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs during the chase. The pitch was slow and sticky and the spinners from Afghanistan utilized the conditions accordingly. Every batsmen chipped with 10s and 15s but nobody steady the ship for Zimbabwe.
Tinashe Panyangara was the highest scorer with 17 runs means Zimbabwe were strangled to yet another defeated with the Associate giant. Legbreak googly from Rashid Khan put all the breaks during the chase as he picked up 3/11 in his 4 overs.
It was the highest score for Afghanistan in the history of World T20 and fifth consecutive win over Zimbabwe in Twenty20 Internationals. A 59 runs defeat leads to exit for Zimbabwe as they failed to qualify in both 2014 and 2016. Meanwhile, Afghanistan advances to Super 10s with a 3-0 win in the group B of the qualifiers.
