Zimbabwe Vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I Highlights: AFG Beat ZIM By 53 Runs To Gain 1-0 Lead In the 3 Match Series

Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by a 53-run margin at the Harare Sports Club to gain a 1-0 lead in the 3-match T20I series which began on October 29.

Rashid Khan had won the toss and chose to bat first in what was a batting friendly surface.

The Afghani top-order got their side off to a great start with Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring 39 off 25, Ibrahim Zadran scoring a half-century and Sediqullah Atal scoring a quickfire 25 runs.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Shahidullah provided the finishing touches with their contributions of 27 and 22 to help Afghanistan post 180 on the board.

In response, Zimbabwe were folded for just 127 runs as Omarzai and leg-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman ran riot, picking up 3 and 4 wickets respectively. Abdullah Ahmadzai also chipped in with 2 wickets.

The hosts, who were absolutely gutted with the loss, had 3 batters who got out for a duck. Tinotenda Maposa was the highest scorer for Zimbabwe with 32 runs from the number 9 position.

Zimbabwe will look to forget their miserable performance today and will be hoping for a strong comeback in the 2nd T20I which takes place on Friday, October 30.

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Live Score, 1st T20I: Ball-by-Ball Commentary

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: Toss Update

Afghanistan's captain Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bat first.

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: Playing XIs

Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Rashid Khan (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: Full Squads

Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Graeme Cremer, Clive Madande, Tony Munyonga.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Abdullah Ahmadzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Shahidullah Kamal.