Afghanistan completed a comprehensive 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe with a commanding victory in the final encounter. Zimbabwe’s batting lineup struggled significantly, collapsing for a total of only 79 runs in 14.3 overs as their middle order fell apart against Afghanistan’s spin attack. Afghanistan, who’d already won the series 2-0, put in an emphatic effort to claim it 3-0.
Left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad delivered a match-winning performance, finishing with figures of 5 for 13 from his 3.3 overs. The spinner was remarkably economical, bowling 11 dot balls while dismantling the Zimbabwean tail and middle order. He claimed the wickets of Wesley Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Newman Nyamhuri, and Ernest Masuku as the team lost their final few wickets in a span of just 4.4 overs, slipping from 56/4 to their final total. Zimbabwe went from 56/4 to 79 all-out in the space of 4.4 overs.
The collapse was set in motion early by Afghanistan’s seamers, as Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Abdullah Tarakhail combined to reduce Zimbabwe to 13/3 by the fourth over. Although Ryan Burl, who top-scored with 30, and Madhevere attempted to stabilize the innings, Azmatullah Omarzai removed Burl in the 10th over to stifle any hopes of a recovery.
Afghanistan chased down the target of 80 with relative ease despite losing three wickets, reaching the required total in 8.1 overs. Opener Ibrahim Zadran anchored the response with 25 runs off 17 balls, while Azmatullah remained unbeaten on 18 to guide the side to a seven-wicket win. Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 79 (Ryan Burl 30; Noor Ahmad 5-13) lost to Afghanistan 80/3 (Ibrahim Zadran 25*) by 7 wickets. Afghanistan lost three wickets in chase but it took them just 8.1 overs to get past Zimbabwe’s lowly total.
