Mujeeb’s five-for seals Afghanistan’s series win

SHARJAH: Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s maiden five-wicket haul in One-day Internationals (ODI) led Afghanistan to a series-clinching ten-wicket win over Zimbabwe here on Friday — with one match still left to play.Afghanistan have now won four of the five ODI series between these two sides, the other ending in a 2-2 draw.

Zimbabwe chose to bat first and were immediately pushed onto the back foot by Mujeeb’s mystery spin. Opening the bowling, as usual, he sent back Solomon Mire and Hamilton Masakadza — both openers bowled — in his first spell, leaving Zimbabwe 15 for 2. Brendan Taylor counterattacked, hitting two sixes in one Mujeeb over and rushing to 30 at over a run a ball before falling to Sharafuddin Ashraf. Either side of his dismissal, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan also struck key blows to reduce the visitors to 74 for 5. Craig Ervine kept fighting at one end, but no one stayed with him long enough as Afghanistan’s spinners kept making regular incisions.

Zimbabwe won toss

Zimbabwe

S F Mire b Mujeeb 9

H Masakadza b Mujeeb 4

T K Musakanda c & b Nabi 9

†B R M Taylor c Ihsanullah b Sharafuddin 30

C R Ervine not out 54

S Raza lbw b Rashid 4

R P Burl c & b Nabi 10

*A G Cremer c Ihsanullah b Mujeeb 2

K M Jarvis b Mujeeb 0

T L Chatara c Ihsanullah b Rashid 4

B Muzarabani b Mujeeb 0

Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8

Total (all-out; 38 Overs) 134

Fall: 1-14, 2-15, 3-54, 4-66, 5-74, 6-88, 7-98, 8-98, 9-103, 10-134

Bowling: Dawlat 7-2-22-0; Mujeeb 10-0-50-5; Sharafuddin 4-0-15-1; Nabi 7-1-18-2; Rashid 10-2-28-2

Afghanistan

†M Shahzad not out 75

Ihsanullah not out 51

Extras (lb 2, w 7) 9

Total (0 wickets; 21.1 Overs) 135

Did not bat: *Asghar Stanikzai, M Nabi, Rashid Khan, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Nasir Jamal

Bowling: Jarvis 3-0-23-0; Chatara 4-0-27-0; Cremer 8-1-38-0; Muzarabani 4-0-25-0; Burl 2.1-0-20-0

Result: Afghanistan won by 10 wickets

Series: Afghanistan lead the 5-match series by 3-1

Man of the Match: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)

Umpires: Ahmed Shah Durrani (Afghanistan) and N Llong (England). TV Umpires: Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afghanistan). Match Referee: Sir R Richardson (West Indies)