Teen Ghazanfar takes 5-33 as Afghanistan win ODI series
Teenage spinner Allah Ghazanfar took five for 33 as Afghanistan overwhelmed Zimbabwe by eight wickets on Saturday for a 2-0 one-day international series win.
The 18-year-old followed up a six-wicket haul against Bangladesh last month with a man-of-the-match show in Harare as the tourists crushed the hosts for the second time in three days.
The opening ODI in the three-match series was washed out on Tuesday.
𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 🏆#NewCoverPhoto | #AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/61PRFSL7eY
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 21, 2024
Zimbabwe were put in to bat by Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and, with the exception of veteran Sean Williams, who made 60 from 61 balls, flopped to be all out of 127.
Sediqullah Atal, fresh from a maiden ODI century on Thursday, top-scored with 52 as Afghanistan cruised to 131 for two in just 26.5 overs and completed a white-ball double after a Twenty20 series win.
It was the seventh ODI series triumph for Afghanistan over Zimbabwe with one drawn.
AM Ghazanfar was named Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance, taking 5 wickets for 33 runs in 10 overs. 👏🏅 #AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/37jVXunEyn
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 21, 2024
"It is wonderful to see youngsters like Allah coming into the team and making such a big impact," Shahidi told reporters.
"Allah is doing very well for the team and, hopefully, he can maintain this momentum and bowl well going forward."
Wreaking havoc with his off-break deliveries, Ghazanfar continued a memorable year in which he was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad that won the Indian Premier League.
Star legspinner Rashid Khan also tormented the hosts, taking three for 38 as the fragility of the Zimbabwe batters was exposed again. They were all out for 54 two days ago.
Williams, whose 61-ball knock included three sixes and six fours, was among only three Zimbabweans to reach double figures.
The top Zimbabwe scorer departed when his reverse sweep shot off Khan was caught by 39-year-old Mohammed Nabi at first slip.
Atal and Abdul Malik put on 84 for the first wicket before both fell in the space of 10 balls, leaving Shahidi (20 not out) to seal victory with 139 balls to spare.
𝐀𝐅𝐆𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝟐-𝟎 🙌#AfghanAtalan have put on a remarkable all-round performance to win the third & final ODI by 8 wickets and secure a 2-0 series victory in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. 👏#ZIMvAFG |… pic.twitter.com/6BcLsrOag1
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 21, 2024
A brilliant catch at deep extra cover by Brian Bennett spelt the end for Atal.
Earlier, Malik got an inside edge to a Richard Ngarava delivery, which uprooted his leg stump.
The teams now move to southern city Bulawayo for a two-test series, with the first starting on December 26.
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