SharjahAfghanistan thrashed Zimbabwe by 49 runs in the first low-scoring match of the one-day international (ODI) series on Friday evening at the home venue of Sharjah Cricket stadium.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Afghanistan set a target of 132 runs for Zimbabwe losing all wickets after 38.5 overs were bowled.
Opener Noor Ali Zadran scored 63 runs from 82 balls which included 8 fours. Mohammad Nabi was caught out after scoring 17 runs and Najibullah Zadran made 16 runs from 32 balls.
Afghanistan was steered to the victory in the opening match of the ODI series by the brilliant performance of the Afghan bowlers where Amir Hamza took 4 wickets after conceding 17 runs. Mohammad Nabi claimed 3 wickets and Mirwais Ashraf 2 wickets to restrict the Zimbabwe batsmen.
The captain told me ‘to bowl wicket to wicket and if an opportunity is there, don’t miss out’, man of the match Hamza told cricinfo.com.
The Zimbabwe batsmen were restricted to 82 runs after 30.5 overs were bowled. Only three Zimbabwe batsmen reached to double figures with Captain Elton Chigumbura top-scoring on 28.
I thought we started well, at one stage we thought they would score 270, said Chigumbura in a post match presentation.
Zimbabwe Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer finished with 5-20. The second game of the series takes place at the same venue on Tuesday.
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