Gurbaz, Janat, Khan put Afghanistan 1-0 up

ABU DHABI — Afghanistan earned an emphatic 48-run win over a Zimbabwe side who were shown just how far behind they are in the shortest format.

Zimbabwe did not get the opportunity to qualify for the T20 World Cup, due to the temporary suspension of their board, but Afghanistan will feature in that tournament and the difference in intent, aggression and style of play between the two sides was evident from the get-go.

Zimbabwe opted to chase on a surface that captain Sean Williams thought 170 would be competitive on, but their attack went on to concede 198, including 11 wides, against an Afghan top-order that took no prisoners.

Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz plundered a 44-ball 87, shared in an 80-run first-wicket stand with Karim Janat and 74-run second-wicket partnership with Asghar Afghan to ask Zimbabwe to chase a target they have never successfully got to in the past.

Without power-hitters in their team and against a wellbalanced Afghan attack, Zimbabwe were never really in the hunt, despite being 106 for 1 after 12 overs.

Afghanistan’s well-balanced attack shared wickets between seam and spin and it was Rashid Khan who headlined their effort once again. His 3 for 28 kept Zimbabwe in check and extended his already impressive T20 record.

Since Rashid made his debut in October 2015, he has taken more T20 wickets than anyone else, with 92 to his name. Ish Sodhi is next on the list with 64.

Afghanistan have now won nine out of 10 T20Is against Zimbabwe.

Gurbaz enjoyed a rollicking start and scored 41 runs off the first 20 balls he faced but Zimbabwe had an early opportunity to end his innings.

Though the pull short worked for him off Richard Ngarava, when Gurbaz attempted the same off Blessing Muzarabani he hit the ball straight to deep square leg. Wesley Madhevere, whose first three Test innings resulted in three ducks, put down a simple chance to only worsen an already tough tour.

Gurbaz went on to score 87 and was on track for a century but did not meet the pitch of a Ryan Burl slower ball and top-edged to point, where Donald Tiripano held on.

Madhevere was in to bat at number seven and arrived at the crease with Zimbabwe all but out of the match, on 123 for 5 in the 17th over.

With no runs to his name on the trip so far, he may have had his heart in his mouth when he drove the first ball he faced to extra cover, and it seemed to hang in the air a little longer than intended.

But, he nudged the next one to square leg to complete his first single of the series. As Madhevere reached the non-striker’s end, he got a congratulatory fist bump from umpire Aleem Dar, who jokingly convinced him to raise his bat as well.