Harare, November 01, 2025 – A dominant all-round performance led Afghanistan to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Friday. With this win, the visitors secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, continuing their strong tour after a one-off Test loss.
Zimbabwe’s Batting Stifled by Rashid’s Masterclass
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Zimbabwe’s innings never found momentum and was eventually bundled out for a modest 125. The hosts struggled against a disciplined Afghan bowling attack, with only captain Sikandar Raza (37 off 32) offering substantial resistance.
The architect of Zimbabwe’s collapse was skipper Rashid Khan. The leg-spinning maestro was at his devastating best, finishing with remarkable figures of 3 for 9 from his four overs. He broke the backbone of the innings by removing the dangerous Raza via a caught-and-bowled and then struck twice more in the same over to dismantle the lower order.
A Clinical Chase Led by Zadran
In response, Afghanistan’s chase was a professional and composed affair. Opener Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with a classy, unbeaten 57, his second consecutive half-century of the series. His 51-ball knock, adorned with seven boundaries, ensured there were no hiccups in the run chase.
Afghanistan comfortably reached the target of 129 in just 18 overs, losing only three wickets along the way. The winning runs were fittingly hit by Azmatullah Omarzai, who smashed a boundary past long-off to seal the series victory with 12 balls to spare.
Key Takeaways
- Rashid’s Reign: Rashid Khan’s spell was a classic demonstration of his match-winning ability, single-handedly restricting Zimbabwe to a below-par total.
- Zadran’s Consistency: Ibrahim Zadran’ back-to-back fifties underscore his importance as a pillar at the top of the Afghan batting order.
- Series Sealed: Afghanistan’s comprehensive performance confirms their T20I dominance over Zimbabwe, bouncing back emphatically from their Test defeat.
The third and final T20I, now a dead rubber, will be played on Sunday at the same venue.
Brief Scores:
Zimbabwe: 125 all out in 19.3 overs (Sikandar Raza 37; Rashid Khan 3/9)
Afghanistan: 129/3 in 18 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 57*)
Result: Afghanistan won by 7 wickets (with 12 balls remaining).
Player of the Match: Rashid Khan
