Tariq Stanikzai steers Afghanistan to Plate title
Even Rashid struggled against Murray with his legspin – he kept pitching it short, hoping for a miscue, but on the day, Murray was connecting well. His half-century came in just 43 balls, even as Mavuta fell to Tariq, while attempting to attack. Unperturbed, Murray carried on. He put on 25 with Mashinge, but met his end when he went on the front foot to Rashid, edging him to first slip.
His knock, however, had galvanised Zimbabwe. Mashinge took on the aggressor’s role, and though he didn’t do much in terms of boundaries, he worked the gaps and kept the runs flowing. He rebuilt the innings expertly, taking the lead in stands of 31 with Wesley Madhevere for the sixth wicket and 66 with Adam Keefe for the seventh.
It meant Zimbabwe finished the innings better than how it had started, but it proved insufficient.