Afghanistan crush Zimbabwe to enter World T20 Super-10s

NAGPUR: Afghanistan, an ICC associate defeated full member Zimbabwe by 59 runs in the qualifiers first round group B match to enter the Super 10s stage of the World Twenty20 here at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Saturday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan piled up a big total of 186 for six and then bowled out Zimbabwe for 127 in 19.4 overs.

Zimbabwe failed to chase the huge target as none of their batsmen could resist against Afghan bowlers, who all were among the wickets except Gulbadin Naib.

The highest score was just 17 not out, made by Tinashe Panyangara, who was also the most successful bowler with three for 32.

For Afghanistan, pace bowlers Rashid Khan and Hamid Hassan captured three for 11and two for 11, respectively.

Mohammad Nabi’s career-best 52 helped Afghanistan recover from a mid-innings wobble and build on a strong start to post a total Zimbabwe never looked capable of chasing.

Nabi and Samiullah Shenwari recorded their second-highest partnership after a rip-roaring start from Mohammad Shahzad.

Before Nabi and Shenwari came together, Zimbabwe had taken four wickets in 20 balls. But their 98 runs off 64 balls lifted  Afghanistan up to a rock-solid total.

Nabi smashed two sixes and four boundaries in his 32- ball innings while Shenwari made 43 from37 balls with four fours and a six and Shahzad scored 40 off 23 balls with seven fours and a six.