Williams, Mpofu keep Zimbabwe alive in series
In a must-win match, Zimbabwe snatched an incredible three-run win over Afghanistan at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Tuesday (February 21).
Afghanistan was cruising towards the target of 130 in the third One-Day International after having bowled Zimbabwe out for 129 in 32.4 overs, but the team went from 107 for 4 in the 24th over to 126 all out in 29.3 overs to keep the five-match series alive. Afghanistan’s lead has now been cut to 2-1.
The visiting side’s wickets included a sequence of losing five for five runs in three overs, collapsing from 121 for 5 with the target within strolling distance and almost half the overs left.
The wrecker-in-chief at the death was Chris Mpofu, the right-arm pacer. He took the sixth, seventh and ninth wickets to fall in a short burst that derailed Afghanistan’s chase. Sean Williams did the rest, on the way to figures of 3 for 15 in 5.3 overs, while Mpofu had 3 for 24 in five.
Afghanistan didn’t have the best start to its chase, losing Noor Ali Zadran in the second over to Tendai Chatara. But useful hands from Mohammad Shahzad (20), Asghar Stanikzai (31), the captain, and Samiullah Shenwari (29) meant the chase was always on track given the low total Zimbabwe had put up. Chatara bowled 10 economical overs to return 3 for 30, but until Mpofu and Williams cleaned up the tail in double quick time, it always looked like Afghanistan had more than enough time and batsmen to seal what could have been a series-winning lead.
In the first half, Zimbabwe stuttered after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Tarisai Musakanda came in at No. 3 in the fourth over, and stayed till the 30th, holding one end up even as the top order fell all around him. Musakanda made 60 off 74, but the only one to reach double figures among the rest of the top six was Peter Moor, the wicketkeeper, who made 10 at the top of the order. All of Solomon Mire, Craig Ervine, Williams and Ryan Burl fell cheaply, with Gulbadin Naib’s medium pace doing the damage up top. Fareed Ahmad too did his bit, accounting for Mire and then Musakanda with his left-arm pace.
The lower order was cleaned up by Rashid Khan, the teenaged legspinner who had fetched a Rs 4 crore bid at the Indian Premier League auctions just a day earlier. Naib had the best figures with 4 for 27 in six overs, while Rashid took 3 for 29 in 5.4 overs and Ahmad had 2 for 19 in six overs.
Malcolm Waller’s 36 not out provided the sole resistance after Musakanda had been dismissed, and their stand of 81 for the sixth wicket is what ensured Zimbabwe would cross into three figures.