Afghanistan Beat Zimbabwe by 7 Wickets to Sweep T20I Series 3-0 in Sharjah

Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets in the third and final T20I at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday, November 1. The win completed a 3-0 series sweep. Afghanistan finished the chase with 71 balls to spare.

Afghanistan won the toss and chose to field. Zimbabwe then collapsed. They were bowled out for just 79 in 14.3 overs. Spinner Noor Ahmad took the best bowling figures of his T20I career.

The chase was only 80 runs. Afghanistan lost an early wicket, but 15 runs came off Muzarabani's opening over. Azmatullah Omarzai then walked in and hit a huge six out of the ground. Afghanistan were 54 for 3 at the end of the powerplay. Omarzai and captain Ibrahim Zadran took the side home from there. Ibrahim hit four boundaries off Masuku in the seventh over. Afghanistan reached 81 for 3 in 8.1 overs.

Afghanistan made four changes for the game. Tarakhail made his T20I debut.

The series had been settled earlier. Afghanistan won the first T20I on October 27 by 37 runs. They made 177 in 19.5 overs, with Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and Rashid Khan hitting hard in the innings. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 140. In the second T20I on October 29, Afghanistan won by 19 runs and took an unbeatable 2-0 lead.

That second game was the best of the three. Afghanistan were 5 for 4 early on. Azmatullah Omarzai then scored his maiden T20I century, 116 off 50 balls. Afghanistan made 221 for 7. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza replied with an unbeaten 106 off 56 balls. At 40, he became the oldest man to score a T20I hundred. Zimbabwe still finished on 202 for 5. Rashid Khan also took his 200th T20I wicket in that match. He is the first men's bowler to reach the mark.

Zimbabwe leave Sharjah without a win in the series. Afghanistan leave with a clean sweep.