Afghanistan Delivers a Dominant 232-Run Win Over Zimbabwe in Second ODI
In a spectacular all-round performance, Afghanistan crushed Zimbabwe by a massive 232 runs in the second ODI at Harare, taking an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Afghanistan’s dominant display began with a record-breaking 191-run opening partnership, and Zimbabwe’s batting was dismantled in just 17.5 overs in a dramatic collapse.
The star of the show was Sediqullah Atal, who marked his maiden ODI century with a brilliant 104 off 128 balls, including eight fours and four sixes. Alongside him, Abdul Malik played a vital knock of 84, and together, they took Afghanistan to a commanding 286/6 after 50 overs. For the majority of their innings, Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled to find any breakthroughs, with Atal and Malik comfortably building their partnership.
It wasn’t until the 18-year-old pacer Newman Nyamhuri broke the stand by cleaning up Malik that Zimbabwe found a glimmer of hope. Nyamhuri went on to pick up two more wickets, including Atal’s, but Afghanistan’s total was still more than enough for the victory.
Zimbabwe's chase turned into an absolute nightmare from the very first over, as Ben Curran was run out. Fast bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai quickly reduced Zimbabwe to 11/4 by the seventh over, leaving the hosts reeling. AM Ghazanfar then took center stage, knocking back Sean Williams’s stumps and dismissing Brian Bennett in the same over, while Naveed Zadran joined in the destruction, picking up three wickets to leave Zimbabwe at 32/6.
The collapse was swift and relentless. Zimbabwe’s batsmen were unable to find any resistance as they crumbled to 53/9, and Afghanistan wrapped up the game when Ghazanfar took his third wicket, bowling Zimbabwe out for 54, their joint-lowest total in ODIs against Afghanistan.
A flawless performance from Afghanistan, who now sit comfortably with a 1-0 series lead as they look ahead to wrapping up the series in style.
