Afghanistan hold on to beat Zimbabwe in second ODI

Mohammad Shahzad’s 131* became the highest score for an Afghanistan batsman in ODIs

AFP: Afghanistan survived a middle-order batting collapse to claim a four-wicket win over Zimbabwe in Sharjah on Tuesday (29 December) and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match one-day international series.

Wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad held his nerve as wickets tumbled around him, scoring an unbeaten 131 – the highest ODI score by an Afghan batsman – to help the non-Test playing nation chase down a target of 254 with 14 balls to spare.

Afghanistan were cruising at 169-1, but the run out of Mohammad Nabi triggered an alarming collapse that saw them lose five wickets for just 29 runs.

However, an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 56 between Shahzad and Mirwais Ashraf (26 not out) saw them over the line as Afghanistan bid to follow up a 3-2 win in the ODI series in Zimbabwe in October.

Zimbabwe, who were skittled out for just 82 in the first ODI on Friday, posted a far more competitive total this time although it still fell short.

The tourists reached 253-7 from their alloted 50 overs with half-centures from Craig Ervine (73) and opener Peter Moor (50), while Afghan seamer Dawlat Zadran took 3 for 57.

Brief scores:

Zimbabwe 253-7 in 50 overs (Craig Ervine 73, Peter Moor 50; Dawlat Zadran 3-57) v Afghanistan 254-6 in 47.4 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 131 not out; Elton Chigumbura 3-32)