Afghanistan edges ahead on D/L method

Zimbabwe lost Ryan Burl just before the rain arrived to go down to Afghanistan by 12 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in the first of five One-Day Internationals at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday (February 16).

After Afghanistan had been bowled out for 215 in its final over, Zimbabwe had reached 99 for 3 after 27 overs, and was ahead by one run on the D/L method when Burl, the debutant left-hand batsman, was trapped in front by Rashid Khan, the legspinner, off the first ball of the 28th over. Only one more delivery was possible in the entire match and Zimbabwe ended on 99 for 4 after 27.2 overs to hand Afghanistan a 1-0 lead.

Asghar Stanikzai led the way with a tidy half-century after he won the toss and opted to bat, his 57-ball 50 the top score of Afghanistan’s innings. Mohammad Shahzad, the exciting wicketkeeper-batsman, managed just eight but the rest of the top order all made handy runs. Noor Ali Zadran, the other opener, contributed 39 and put on 67 for the second wicket with Rahmat Shah (31), and Rashid provided the final flourish by blasting 32 off just 18 deliveries with three fours and two sixes.

It was, however, Stanikzai who held the innings together with his seventh ODI fifty, a knock that only contained one four and two sixes and was marked by solid running between the wickets. Zimbabwe was well served by Tendai Chatara (2 for 17) and Chris Mpofu (2 for 45) even as Graeme Cremer, the captain and legspinner, was the most successful with 3 for 46.

Solomon Mire, in his first ODI since March 2015, was winkled out by Amir Hamza in the fifth over of the Zimbabwe chase with just 15 on the board, and when Peter Moor fell to Mohammad Nabi’s offspin, Zimbabwe was in a spot at 21 for 2. Craig Ervine, the No. 3, played a solid hand to arrest the slide, finding some assistance from Sikandar Raza and more meaningful support from Burl, who made 28 off 46 deliveries in a stand of 55 when Rashid undid him with a sharply turning legbreak. At the premature finish, Ervine had moved to a 56-ball 38.

The second match of the series will be played at the same venue on Sunday.