Afghanistan he issued an order to break it Zimbabwe and 232 runs in the second ODI at Harare Sports Club, leading 1-0 in three matches. The visitors showed their batting depth and bowling ability to outclass their hosts, leaving Zimbabwe with a huge task ahead of the finals on Saturday, December 21.
A beautiful display of Afghanistan
Batting first after losing the toss, Afghanistan scored 286/6 in their 50 overs. The innings was set up by a century from Sediqullah Atal, who scored 104 runs off 128 balls. Atal's knock, filled with 8 fours and 4 sixes, provided the backbone of Afghanistan's innings. He was well supported by Abdul Malik, who hit a brilliant 84 off 101 balls, including 11 fours and a six.
Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi contributed 29 runs from 30 deliveries, which increased stability between the overs, while Mohammad Nabi came in with a quick-fire 18. The pair of Atal and Malik laid a solid foundation, and the late batsmen ensured that Afghanistan crossed the 280-run mark.
Zimbabwe's bowlers failed to stop the Afghanistan batsmen, with Newman Nyamhuri the only standout, taking 3/53 from his 10 overs. Richard Ngarava (1/49) and Trevor Gwandu (2/70) also contributed with wickets, but the players did not prevent Afghanistan from making a full attack.
Zimbabwe's hit to fall
Chasing 287, Zimbabwe succumbed to pressure from the Afghan players, and were bowled out for a paltry 54 runs in just 17.5 overs. The top order fizzled early on, with Ben Curran, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers and Craig Ervine setting off in strong positions.
Sean Williams (16 off 18) and Sikandar Raza (19 off 32) resisted for a while, but their efforts went in vain as wickets fell time and time again. No other batsman could reach double figures, showing how Zimbabwe is struggling against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's bowlers were brutal, with Fazalhaq Farooqi leading the charge, taking 2/15 in his six overs. Allah Ghazanfar and Naveed Zadran were the top performers, both taking three wickets each as they scored 9 and 13 runs respectively. Azmatullah Omarzai came in again with a wicket to complete the demolition job.
Player of the Match
Sediqullah Atal was adjudged the Player of the Match for his superb year, which laid the foundation for Afghanistan's most successful campaign. His ability to tie up the innings and run at the right time proved crucial in setting a tough target.
Series overview
After the first ODI was abandoned due to rain, Afghanistan's victory in the second match has given them an unbeaten lead in the series. Zimbabwe will be looking to collect and save some pride in the final ODI, while Afghanistan will be looking to continue their dominance and get the next win.
The third and final ODI promises to be an important encounter for both teams, with Zimbabwe looking for redemption, and Afghanistan looking to finish the series on a high.