Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I, Oct 27, 2026: commentary
| Afghanistan | 177 | 19.5 ov |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | 140 | 19.1 ov |
Afghanistan win by 37 runs
Result
Afghanistan win by 37 runs
What the reporting says
Richard Ngarava is out with a back injury, so Sikandar Raza keeps the ODI captaincy for Zimbabwe's UAE tour.
Innocent Kaia, hurt in the thigh against Australia, is only expected to be available from the T20Is against Afghanistan on October 27.
Keeper-batter Tafadzwa Tsiga and legspinner Vincent Masekesa are in both white-ball squads as possible debutants.
Graeme Cremer has been dropped from Zimbabwe's ODI squad after playing one of three matches against Australia.
Masekesa took 25 wickets at 29.92 as joint-leading wicket-taker for Mountaineers in the Logan Cup.
Afghanistan are at full strength, with Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran returning after being rested for the Bangladesh Test.
Facts taken from the stories linked beside them, each from a sentence in the original.
ZIM 1ST
- 19.1
Over 20. no runs. Bowler: Fazalhaq Farooqi. Zimbabwe: 140/10(rr 7.00)
- 19.1
OUT! Caught. Fazalhaq Farooqi to Newman Nyamhuri. Off cutter length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long off, caught by Arman. Afghanistan crowned a victory after producing a complete performance with both bat and ball. Their batters laid a strong foundation and ensured a challenging target was on the board. In reply, Zimbabwe showed promise through a few useful partnerships, but regular wickets prevented them from building sustained momentum. The Afghan bowlers maintained relentless pressure throughout and stayed in control for most of the contest.
- 19.0
Over 19. 11 runs. Bowler: Azmatullah Omarzai. Zimbabwe: 140/9(rr 7.37)
- 18.6
SIX! Azmatullah Omarzai to Wellington Masakadza. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot flick, well timed in the air under control over deep backward square leg for 6 runs.
- 18.5
Azmatullah Omarzai to Newman Nyamhuri. Reverse Swing-In length ball, to leg on the front foot flick, Played in the air under control to deep square leg for 1 run, fielded by Ahmadzai.
- 18.4
Azmatullah Omarzai to Wellington Masakadza. Reverse Swing-In length ball, outside off stump on the back foot glancing, Played to fine leg for 1 run, fielded by Farooqi.
- 18.3
OUT! Bowled. Azmatullah Omarzai to Ernest Masuku. Reverse Swing-In length ball, outside off stump on the back foot working, missed. Masuku looks stunned by this delivery.
- 18.2
OUT! L.B.W. Azmatullah Omarzai to Brad Evans. Reverse Swing-In half volley, middle stump on the front foot Slog, hit pad. The umpire has no hesitation in raising his finger.
- 18.1
Azmatullah Omarzai to Brad Evans. Reverse Swing-In length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed to square leg for 2 runs, fielded by Zadran.
- 18.1
Wide Azmatullah Omarzai to Brad Evans. Half volley, down leg side on the front foot Leave, left for 1 run, fielded by Gurbaz.
- 18.0
Over 18. 12 runs. Bowler: Shahidullah Kamal. Zimbabwe: 129/7(rr 7.17)
- 17.6
Shahidullah Kamal to Brad Evans. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, Played to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Ahmadzai.
- 17.5
Shahidullah Kamal to Newman Nyamhuri. Stock length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, Played in the air under control to deep point for 1 run, fielded by Ahmadzai.
- 17.4
OUT! Caught. Shahidullah Kamal to Wessley Madhevere. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on, caught by Atal. Madhevere's cameo comes to a close.
- 17.3
Shahidullah Kamal to Wessley Madhevere. Stock length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, Played in the air under control to deep extra cover for 2 runs, run save by Arman.
- 17.2
SIX! Shahidullah Kamal to Wessley Madhevere. Stock ball half volley, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control over long on for 6 runs.
- 17.1
APPEAL! Shahidullah Kamal to Wessley Madhevere. Stock length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot cutting, Played to deep point for 2 runs, fielded by Ahmadzai, by Kamal, appeal made for Run Out. The batter made his ground before the wicket was put down.
- 17.0
Over 17. 6 runs. Bowler: Fazalhaq Farooqi. Zimbabwe: 117/6(rr 6.88)
- 16.6
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wessley Madhevere. Off cutter length ball, to leg on the back foot driving, Played to backward point for 1 run, shy attempt by Lakanwal.
- 16.5
FOUR! Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wessley Madhevere. Off cutter back of a length, down leg side on the front foot reverse sweeping, well timed in the air under control past third man for 4 runs.
- 16.1
OUT! Caught. Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Burl. Length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to short extra cover, caught by Kamal. The ray of hope for Zimbabwe departs.
- 15.2
OUT! L.B.W. Rashid Khan to Tadiwanashe Marumani. Leg spinner length ball, to leg on the front foot Slog, hit pad. Marumani trapped in front.
- 13.4
OUT! Caught. Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza. Quicker ball full toss, outside off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket, caught by Omarzai. Raza fails to utilise the sloppy delivery.
- 9.3
OUT! Caught. Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Brian Bennett. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on, caught by Kamal. Struggling knock comes to an end.
- 7.6
OUT! Bowled. Rashid Khan to Innocent Kaia. Googly length ball, outside off stump on the back foot working, missed. Knocked him over.
- 2.2
OUT! Caught. Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ben Curran. In-swinging back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid wicket, caught by Omarzai. Not a great shot from Ben Curran.
AFG 1ST
- 19.5
Over 20. 4 runs. Bowler: Newman Nyamhuri. Afghanistan: 177/10(rr 8.85)
- 19.5
Wide Newman Nyamhuri to Fazalhaq Farooqi. Half volley, wide down leg side on the back foot Leave, Left to fine leg for 2 runs, mis-fielded by Marumani, fielded by Masuku.
- 19.5
OUT! Caught. Newman Nyamhuri to Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Length ball, off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to extra cover, caught by Butt. Afghanistan recovered well after early setbacks and posted a competitive total on the board. Shahidullah Kamal provided stability in the middle phase before Ijaz Ahmadzai changed the momentum with a blistering knock. Rashid Khan then delivered a powerful late surge, ensuring a strong finish to the innings. For Zimbabwe, Newman Nyamhuri was the standout bowler, leading the attack with regular breakthroughs. Brad Evans and Ernest Masuku offered valuable support with key wickets. Join us for Zimbabwe's reply after a break.
- 19.4
OUT! Caught. Newman Nyamhuri to Noor Ahmad. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid off, caught by Evans. Another one bites the dust.
- 19.3
Newman Nyamhuri to Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, Played in the air under control to mid on for 1 run, fielded by Burl.
- 19.2
OUT! Caught. Newman Nyamhuri to Rashid Khan. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket, caught by Madhevere. Well-judged catch from Wessly Madhevere
- 19.1
Newman Nyamhuri to Noor Ahmad. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed to long on for 1 run, run save by Burl.
- 19.0
Over 19. 17 runs. Bowler: Brad Evans. Afghanistan: 173/7(rr 9.11)
- 18.6
Brad Evans to Rashid Khan. Half volley, wide outside off stump deep in crease Slog, missed for no runs, fielded by Marumani.
- 18.5
SIX! Brad Evans to Rashid Khan. Slower length ball, wide outside off stump deep in crease Slog, well timed in the air under control over long off for 6 runs.
- 18.4
SIX! Brad Evans to Rashid Khan. Half volley, wide outside off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control over deep backward point for 6 runs.
- 18.3
Brad Evans to Noor Ahmad. Slower length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, thick edge in the air uncontrolled to third man for 1 run, fielded by Masuku.
- 18.2
FOUR! Brad Evans to Noor Ahmad. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control past deep mid wicket for 4 runs.
- 18.1
OUT! Caught. Brad Evans to Ijaz Ahmadzai. Slower length ball, wide outside off stump deep in crease Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on, caught by Burl. Scintillating knock comes to an end.
- 18.0
Over 18. 19 runs. Bowler: Ernest Masuku. Afghanistan: 156/6(rr 8.67)
- 17.6
FOUR! Ernest Masuku to Rashid Khan. Off cutter length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot Slog, thick edge in the air uncontrolled past third man for 4 runs.
- 17.5
SIX! Ernest Masuku to Rashid Khan. Length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control over deep point for 6 runs.
- 17.4
Ernest Masuku to Ijaz Ahmadzai. Half volley, outside off stump on the front foot driving, Played in the air under control to mid off for 1 run, fielded by Butt.
- 17.3
SIX! Ernest Masuku to Ijaz Ahmadzai. Off cutter length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, well timed in the air under control over deep cover for 6 runs.
- 17.2
Ernest Masuku to Rashid Khan. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid off for 1 run, fielded by Butt.
- 16.1
OUT! Caught. Newman Nyamhuri to Shahidullah Kamal. Length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on, caught by Burl. End of a good knock.
- 11.2
OUT! Caught & Bowled. Sikandar Raza to Azmatullah Omarzai. Googly length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled back to bowler, caught by Butt. Soft dismissial.
- 8.5
OUT! Caught. Wellington Masakadza to Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Stock ball half volley, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to short extra cover, caught by Butt. Great catch from Raza.
- 2.6
OUT! L.B.W. Ernest Masuku to Mohammad Akram. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot working, hit pad. Looks like height, but the umpire says out.
- 2.4
OUT! Caught. Ernest Masuku to Sediqullah Atal. Out-swinging length ball, to leg on the front foot pushing, outside edge, caught by Marumani. Edged and gone.
- 1.5
OUT! Caught. Brad Evans to Ibrahim Zadran. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to extra cover, caught by Bennett. Captain back to the hut.