Afghanistan asserted complete authority in the final of the tri-series, cruising to an emphatic seven-wicket victory against Zimbabwe. Setting the tone with disciplined bowling, the Afghan side dismantled the opposition batting lineup before comfortably chasing down the target with plenty of overs to spare. Zimbabwe, who batted first after entering the contest, failed to withstand the bowling pressure and were bundled out for just 169 runs in 43.3 overs. In reply, Afghanistan knocked off the required runs with ease, reaching 170 for the loss of three wickets in 34.3 overs to seal the tournament championship.
Zimbabwe Batting Collapse and Sikandar Raza's Lone Battle
Zimbabwe endured a disastrous outing with the bat as most of their lineup folded cheaply against a relentless attack. Captain Sikandar Raza stood out as the lone warrior for his side, demonstrating resilience to top-score with 68 runs off 83 deliveries, an effort that featured three boundaries and three towering sixes. Middle-order batter Ryan Burl offered some support during the middle phases, contributing 31 runs from 45 balls. Late down the order, number 11 batter Blessing Muzarabani chipped in with an unbeaten 17 runs to push the total toward respectability. Aside from these few contributions, the rest of the batting order failed completely, leaving Zimbabwe bowled out well before completing their allocated overs.
Disciplined Afghan Attack Spearheaded by Rashid Khan
The Afghan bowlers maintained strict control right from the opening exchanges, preventing Zimbabwe from building sustained partnerships. Lead leg-spinner Rashid Khan delivered an exceptional performance, capturing three crucial wickets for 41 runs across his full quota of 10 overs. Pacer Bilal Sami provided valuable breakthroughs from the other end, picking up two wickets while conceding only 27 runs in 5.3 overs. Veteran Mohammad Nabi and seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi collected two wickets apiece, while Azmatullah Omarzai accounted for one scalp. This collective bowling display ensured that Zimbabwe never found the scoring momentum needed in a high-stakes final.
Ibrahim Zadran Anchors the Run Chase to Seal Victory
Chasing a modest target of 170 runs, Afghanistan launched their reply on an aggressive note courtesy of opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Gurbaz played a brisk knock at the top, smashing four boundaries and two sixes on his way to 36 off 31 deliveries. Opener Ibrahim Zadran then anchored the innings with composure, ensuring there were no mid-innings stumbles. Zadran struck four boundaries and a six during his 96-ball stay, accumulating 70 crucial runs to lead his side home. Captain Rahmat Shah occupied the crease for 63 balls, recording three runs with a four and a six to his name. For Zimbabwe, Newman Nyamhuri claimed two wickets and Wessly Madhevere took one, but their efforts were insufficient to stop Afghanistan from reaching 170 in 34.3 overs.
