Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe in T20I: Here are the records broken
Afghanistan were too good for Zimbabwe in the second T20I of the tri-series involving Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Batting first, Afghanistan posted 197/5 in 20 overs. Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi smashed seven sixes in seven balls to change the tide. Zimbabwe managed 169/7 during the chase. Here are the records broken.
This was Afghanistan's eighth consecutive win against Zimbabwe in T20Is. With this victory, Afghanistan have maintained a 100% record against Zimbabwe in this format. This was Afghanistan's sixth highest score in T20Is and the second best against Zimbabwe. This was Afghanistan's 11th consecutive win in T20Is since losing 0-3 against West Indies in 2017.
Afghanistan were 123 for 4 in 16 overs and Zimbabwe had things under control. From there on, Zadran and Nabi smashes seven consecutive sixes in a 107-run stand for the fifth wicket. This was Afghanistan's highest fifth-wicket stand in T20Is. It is also second-highest fifth-wicket stand in the shortest format of the game. They consumed just 40 deliveries for the century-plus partnership.
Veteran all-rounder Nabi hit the first six of the thread on third delivery of the 17th over bowled by Tendai Chatara. He then smashed the fast bowler for three more successive sixes to give the strike to Zadran. In the next over, Zadran went hammer and tongs as he muscled three more sixes in the next over off Neville Madziva. This helped Afghanistan dominate.
Zadran, who smashed an unbeaten 69 from 30 deliveries, registered his highest score in T20Is. He smashed five fours and six sixes. This was Zadran's third career T20I fifty in his 42nd inning. Nabi, who amassed a 18-ball 38, raced to 1,199 runs in T20Is. He has smashed a total of 70 sixes and needs three more to surpass Mohammad Shahzad (72).
Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave Afghans a brisk start with a 24-ball 43. From 57/1, Afghans were reduced to 90/4. Zadran and Nabi got along and changed the complexion. Zimbabwe never quite got going after losing wickets regularly. Afghan skipper Rashid Khan (2/29) raced to 77 career T20I scalps. He is currently sixth in terms of most wickets in T20Is.
