The Sunday News
ZIMBABWEAN cricket hit yet another rock bottom yesterday, losing by 73 runs in the fifth and final One Day International match at Queens Sports Club to lose the series 3-2.
A maiden ODI century from Sean Williams — 102 off 124 balls, an innings made up of three fours and four sixes proved not enough with Zimbabwe 172 all out in 44.1 overs in response to Afghanistan’s 245 runs for nine in 50 overs. Williams shared the man of the match with Afghanistan pace bowler Dawlat Zadran. Afghanistan’s innings were built around half centuries from opener Noor Ali Zadran (54) and man of the series Mohammad Nabi (53).
Afghanistan’s opening pair of Noor Ali Zadran and Mohammad Shahzad produced 35 runs. Zimbabwe shuffled their bowling attack but just could not find the breakthrough. After facing up to 85 deliveries, despatching four fours, Zadran reached his 50. He only added four more runs before he was bowled by Sikandar Raza to bring to end to a 97 run stand for the second wicket with Nabi. The in-form batsman Nabi got to his half century off 65 balls with three fours.
Zimbabwe finally got the big wicket of Nabi, with Raza removing the right hander when he went for a reverse sweep only to be guide the ball to a grateful Chamunorwa Chibhabha at point to depart for 53 runs off 71 deliveries.
New batsman in Samiullah Shenwari was run out for one run, Zimbabwean skipper Elton Chigumbura throwing the ball in for wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami to effect the dismissal.
Raza picked up his third wicket, Najibullah Zadran was stumped by Mutumbami for five runs with Afghanistan five down for 178 runs. Shafiqullah Shafaq on five runs was dropped off the bowling of Luke Jongwe, Mutumbami putting down the catch. That did not cost Zimbabwe much, Shafaq bowled by Masakadza for six runs.
Jongwe finally got reward for his hard work, getting the wicket of Rashid Khan, caught at long off by Masakadza.
Struggling pace bowler Tinashe Panyangara conceded 19 runs in the 47th over in what was one of the major turning points in the game. Masakadza brought it back in the next over, getting rid of the visitors captain Asghar Stanikzai snared in the deep by Raza for 38 runs.
Panyangara was given the ball to bowl the last over, getting the wicket of Mirwais Ashraf, snared by Jongwe 21 runs in an over which cost seven runs. Masakadza finished with three wickets for 31 ruins in nine overs, Raza took the same number of wickets at the expense of 40 runs in 10 overs.
In their run chase, needing 4.9 runs per over, Zimbabwe did not a great start they were looking for, Chibhabha removed by Dawlat Zadran, caught at point by Shenwari. The disaster started unfolding, Craig Ervine sticking his bat out to an Ashraf delivery to be taken behind by Shahzad. Zimbabwe were 15 for three, Mutumbami clean bowled by Zadran for two runs.
Williams stood tall as wickets kept falling on the other hand. Mutombodzi, Raza and Chigumbura all went before the job was done.
Chisoro and Williams’ partnership brought Zimbabwe closer to their victory target. Chisoro fell with 106 runs to go, becoming Amir Hamza’s third wicket, taken by Najibullah Zadran. Jongwe showed some innovation on his way to 16 runs of 14 balls until he tried too many to be bowled by Zadran when Zimbabwe still needed 81 runs to win. After facing up 120 deliveries, three fours and four sixes, Williams reached his maiden century with a single off Nabi.
Zadran struck to get rid of Masakadza whom he clean bowled with an impossible 74 runs needed for a Zimbabwean victory.
Williams was stumped by Shahzad off Khan’s bowling to bring an end to Zimbabwe’s innings.
Zadran took four wickets for 22 runs in eight overs, Hamza had three wickets at the cost of 41 runs in 10 overs while Khan took two wickets. The two teams clash in two Twenty20 Internationals at the same venue tomorrow and Wednesday.
