Zimbabwe bowlers demolish Afghanistan batsmen to seal a massive victory in the 1st ODI
In a completely annihilating performance, Zimbabwe crushed the visiting Afghanistan cricket team by 8 wickets in the 1st ODI at the Queen Sports Club. The effortless victory in Bulawayo meant that the hosts have taken an early lead in the 5-match ODI series. It was a dismal start for the former Pakistani batsman Inzamam ul Haq who was recently appointed the head coach of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai won the toss and opted to bat on a sluggish surface. However, his batsmen did not respond to his plans as they were intent on having an early lunch. Apart from Mohammad Shahzad and the Zadrans, no other batsmen could manage to offer any resistance to the Zimbabwe bowlers who rolled over the tourists for 122.
Wickets fell at regular intervals as the canny Zimbabwean bowlers were all over the Afghan batsmen. Luke Jongwe operated the new-ball with accuracy and control. In the 6th over, he struck twice to send back both the openers.
Mohammad Shehzad threatened to launch a counter-attack with a flurry of boundaries. But, he was outfoxed by the guile of Wellington Masakadza. The 22-year old left-arm spinner ran through the middle-order as Afghanistan stumbled to 71/6.
Najibullah Zadran entertained the audience with a few lusty blows. However, he was castled by the Tendai Chisoro, another left-armer. Chisoro then proceeded to rout the lower-order with his change of pace. Despite winning the toss, the Afghanistan batsmen could only muster a meagre total on a surface which did not seem to have any demons in it.
Requiring to chase only a short target, the Zimbabwe batsmen started positively. The opening duo of Richmond Mutumbami and Chamu Chibhabha dented the confidence of the Afghan new-ball bowlers. With only 70 more runs to get, Mutumbami was dismissed by Aftab Alam. At 57/1, both teams went for recess.
Upon resumption, Chibhabha who reached his 15th fifty and Craig Ervine chipped in with an useful partnership before the former was sent back to the pavilion by Amir Hamza. But, Ervine and Tinotenda Mutumbodzi ensured that they carried their team home to a crushing victory. The 2nd ODI in the series begins on the 18th of October.
Afghanistan 122 (Dawlat Zadran 25, Wellington Masakadza 4-21, Luke Jongwe 3-16); Zimbabwe 126/2 (Chibhabha 58, Aftab Alam 1-21 ) Zimbabwe won by 8 wickets