Afghanistan v Zimbabwe
Wisden's review of Afghanistan v Zimbabwe
Tim Wigmore
15-Apr-2017
At Nagpur, March 12, 2016. Afghanistan won by 59 runs. ‡Afghanistan 186-6 (20 overs) (Mohammad Shahzad 40, Samiullah Shenwari 43, Mohammad Nabi 52; T. Panyangara 3-32); Zimbabwe 127 (19.4 overs) (Rashid Khan 3-11). MoM: Mohammad Nabi.
Neither team in this shoot-out had reached the second stage of a World T20 competition before (this was Zimbabwe's fifth attempt, and Afghanistan's fourth). Afghanistan were favourites, having won all four previous T20Is against Zimbabwe, and Shahzad's brash unorthodoxy bore this out, as he blitzed 40 off 23 balls. His dismissal sparked a collapse of four wickets in 20 deliveries, but Samiullah Shenwari and Nabi (who should have been stumped on 20) added 98. Unobtrusive accumulation built up to fireworks as the Afghans blazed 88 in their last six overs. A target of 187 felt at least 30 too steep, and Zimbabwe were throttled: Rashid Khan showed off his googly to claim three victims, and the highest score was 17 from No. 10 Tinashe Panyangara. Their victory complete, each of the Afghans embraced their coach, the former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Neither team in this shoot-out had reached the second stage of a World T20 competition before (this was Zimbabwe's fifth attempt, and Afghanistan's fourth). Afghanistan were favourites, having won all four previous T20Is against Zimbabwe, and Shahzad's brash unorthodoxy bore this out, as he blitzed 40 off 23 balls. His dismissal sparked a collapse of four wickets in 20 deliveries, but Samiullah Shenwari and Nabi (who should have been stumped on 20) added 98. Unobtrusive accumulation built up to fireworks as the Afghans blazed 88 in their last six overs. A target of 187 felt at least 30 too steep, and Zimbabwe were throttled: Rashid Khan showed off his googly to claim three victims, and the highest score was 17 from No. 10 Tinashe Panyangara. Their victory complete, each of the Afghans embraced their coach, the former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.