Afghanistan – 286-6 in 50 overs (Sediqullah Atal 104, Abdul Malik 84, Hashmatullah Shahidi 29*; Newman Nyamhuri 3/53, Trevor Gwandu 2/70, Richard Ngarava 1/49)
Zimbabwe – 54 all out in 17.5 overs (Sikandar Raza 19*, Sean Williams 16, Richard Ngarava 8; AM Ghazanfar 3/9, Naveed Zadran 3/13, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2/15)
Afghanistan won by 232 runs
Newman Nyamhuri delivered a brilliant individual performance, but his heroics were not enough to prevent Zimbabwe from suffering a heavy 232-run defeat to Afghanistan in the second one-day international at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
The 18-year-old left-arm pace bowler, showcasing maturity beyond his years, was the standout performer for the home side, claiming three crucial wickets for 53 runs. His efforts provided rare moments of joy in an otherwise difficult outing for the hosts, who were overwhelmed by Afghanistan’s commanding batting display and relentless bowling attack.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Zimbabwe’s plans quickly unravelled as Afghanistan’s opening pair, Sediqullah Atal and Abdul Malik, rode their luck with a few edges falling safe.
Once settled, the pair punished Zimbabwe’s bowlers with a blend of aggression and patience, mounting pressure with every over. Zimbabwe’s task became even tougher when debutant fast bowler Tinotenda Maposa, who replaced Blessing Muzarabani, limped off the field in the 16th over after pulling his left quadriceps.
It was left to Nyamhuri to lead the fightback, and the teenager rose to the occasion as he broke the mammoth 191-run opening partnership in the 35th over with a cleverly disguised slower ball that bowled Malik for 84 off 101 balls, a knock that included 11 fours and one six. Nyamhuri struck again soon after, removing Azmatullah Omarzai for five.
His most significant breakthrough came when he dismissed Atal, who had anchored Afghanistan’s innings with a well-compiled century 104 off 128 balls, with eight fours and four sixes.
Atal’s attempt to slice a wide delivery ended in a catch at deep third man, handing Nyamhuri his third wicket and a well-deserved cheer from the home crowd. Trevor Gwandu provided additional support, picking up Razmat Shah for one, but Afghanistan’s middle order accelerated in the final overs to post a formidable 286 for six.
Gwandu finished with figures of two for 70, while Nyamhuri’s three for 53 stood out as Zimbabwe’s brightest highlight. Sikandar Raza bowled eight overs in a row for 34 runs, where he troubled the batters with his variations but ended the spell wicketless.
Chasing a steep target of 287, Zimbabwe’s innings unravelled almost immediately, as Ben Curran’s run out for a duck in the opening over – a result of a risky call for a single – set a grim tone. Tadiwanashe Marumani (3) fell soon after, edging behind, while Dion Myers (1) and captain Craig Ervine (4) followed, leaving Zimbabwe staggering at 11 for four within the first five overs.
Sean Williams (16) and Raza tried to halt the inevitable with a fleeting 21-run partnership for the fifth wicket, but Afghanistan’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure. AM Ghazanfar’s deceptive carrom ball breached Williams’ defense with the score at 32, before the final five wickets tumbled for just nine runs in the space of 18 balls.
Raza, who remained stranded on 19 not out, could only watch helplessly as wickets continued to fall around him. Zimbabwe were bundled out for 54 in 17.5 overs – their fourth-lowest total in ODI history and equalling their lowest against Afghanistan, a record dating back to 2017.
Afghanistan’s bowlers delivered a masterclass, led by Ghazanfar with three for 11 and Naveed Zadran with three for 15. The series concludes on Saturday at the same venue, where Zimbabwe will need to regroup and secure a victory to share the spoils after the first match was washed out.
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