Published: Dec 25, 2015, 03:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 31, 2016, 12:00 PM (IST)
Masa’ Alkhayr! Hello and Welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of the first of the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series between hosts Afghanistan and visitors Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium on Friday. Vishal Mehra and Paulami Chakraborty I will be bringing you all the updates from the action. Afghanistan, who are coming off a series win against this very team in Zimbabwe, a couple of months back, are running high on confidence as they aim for a similar performance in this very series as well, while Zimbabwe aim for a payback, as they look to turn things around in this away series. Live Cricket Scorecard: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2015-16, 1st ODI at Sharjah
That’s all folks!!
Join us again for the live update and action from the second ODI match between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe from Sharjah on December 29. Till then have a nice day 🙂
MAN OF THE MATCH: AMIR HAMZA for his 3 /15 in 7.5 overs
MATCH REPORT: HERE
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 82/10 in 30.5 overs, Batting: Graeme Cremer 12(22): ALL OUT!!! Amir Hamza picks his fourth wicket of the match as Afghanistan win the match by 49 runs. Muzarabani goes lbw making just two runs. This was a very hapless chase by Zimbabwe as many as eight batsmen got out for just single digit score. Mohammad Nabi supported Hazma with match figures of three for 15 in just five overs.
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 79/9 in 29.2 overs, Batting: Graeme Cremer 10(20),Taurai Muzarabani 0(0): OUT!! Wellington Masakadza goes for a duck. This has been the story for Zimbabwean batsmen who have struggled to score and have looked completely out of sorts chasing a low 132.Afghanistan are just a wicket away from winning the match.Mohammad Nabi has also picked his third wicket. As many as five batsmen have been out bowled in the Zimbabwean innning
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 78/8 in 28.1 overs, Batting: Graeme Cremer 10(20),Wellington Masakadza 0(0): OUT!! Another one bites the dust as Amir Hamza picks up his third wicket. Jongwe had no clue where the ball was turning, as he got a beauty. Zimbabwe have now surely lost the plot and can in no way win the match, unless a Christmas miracle of sorts happens.Afghanistan has bowled exceptional well under lights, turning the ball and keeping it in line with the batsmen. Luke Jongwe b Amir Hamza 4 (8)
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 64/7 in 23.5 overs, Batting: Luke Jongwe 0(0),Graeme Cremer 0(0): OUT!! A wonderful catch short-leg by Noor Ali Zadran to get the wicket of Malcolm Waller. Mohammad Nabi nabs his second for the match as Zimbabwe look to heavens to keep defeat away from them. This was absolutely the same situation Zimbabwe were placed against Afghanistan in 2006. Zimbabwe need more 68 runs to win a historic match from the jaws of defeat.
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 64/6 in 22.4 overs, Batting: Malcolm Waller 0(0), Luke Jongwe 0(0): RUN OUT!! Sikandar Raza tries to run as Waller stays unresponsive to a call. Raza was looking to steal a single on the off-side. Zimbabwe now are in deep hole and look to add another match in their list of defeats. Luke Jongwe is now joined Waller in the middle.Zimbabwe still need 68 runs to win.
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 64/5 in 21.6 overs, Batting: Sikandar Raza 0(0) Malcolm Waller 0(0): OUT!! Elton Chigumbura gets bowled trying to flick one on the on side. Mohammad Nabi picks his first wickets of the match, was bowling line and length before the fall of Chigumbura. Zimbabwe are now left with only Sikandar Raza left to save them from this loss.
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 47/4 in 16.2 overs, Batting: Elton Chigumbura 18(44), Sikandar Raza 0(0): OUT!! Another Zimbabwean batsman goes after getting bowled. Peter Moor who looked good, got out trying to nudge one away. Amir Hamza picks his second for the game after picking Chibhabha for duck. Zimbabwe look in trouble with more 86 runs needed to win. Afghanistan are 6 wickets away from snatching the first game in five match series. Peter Moor b Amir Hamza 21 (50)
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 33/3 in 13 overs, Batting: Peter Moor 14(41), Elton Chigumbura 11(41): Afghanistan are played nicely in the match as they only need more seven wickets to win the match. Zimbabwe on the other hand will want Moor and Chigumbura to play steady and restrict the fall of wickets.Mirwais Ashraf has bowled beautifully up until now picking up two wickets. ZImbabwe are 99 runs away from a hard fought victory.
Innings Break
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 28/3 in 11 overs, Batting: Peter Moor 11(23), Elton Chigumbura 10(12): Afghanistan will be the more happier team going into the dinner break as Zimbabwe are already three down for 28. Their bowlers have been able to restrict them with bowling good lengths and lines. Zimbabwe are themselves to blame for playing lazily and rash shots. Zimbabwe still need 104 runs with 7 wickets in hand from 39 overs remaining. Play resumes in 40 minutes.
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 12/3 in 6.5 overs, Batting: Peter Moor 5(15), Elton Chigumbura 0(0): Double Wicket Over OUT!! After batting steadily Craig Ervine got out to a lazy looking shot on the second ball of the over Mirwais Ashraf. Ashraf also picked up another wicket of the fifth ball of the over picking up Richmond Mutumbami. Afghanistan had build up pressure via dot balls in the previous overs. Zimbabwe are in deep trouble as they are yet to get more 120 runs. Captain Elton Chigumbura has joined Peter Moor in the field.
Richmond Mutumbami b Mirwais Ashraf 0 (2)
Craig Ervine c Dawlat Zadran b Mirwais Ashraf 6 (18)
Live Cricket Score, Zimbabwe 1/1 in 0.2 overs, Batting: Peter Moor: OUT!! Fantastic start from Afghanistan. Chamu Chibhabha goes second ball of the innings.Amir Hamza picks his first with wicket of the match. Zimababwe are in a spot of bother as they still have 131 wins to run. Afghanistan can only blame themselves after getting to a good start they faulted in the middle some bad shot selection. Chamu Chibhabha b Amir Hamza 0
Innings Report: HERE
Live Cricket Score, Afghanistan 131 in overs 38.5, Batting: Amir Hamza 2(10): And the Afghanistan innings comes to an end with 133 runs on board. A disappointing performance from the Afghan batsmen. They started off quite well but the turning point has to be skipper Stanikzai’s run out after which they went on losing wickets. Only Noor Ali Zadran out up a mentionable performance as he scored 63 runs but couldn’t find a support from the other end. Graeme Cremer performed exceptionally well for the visitors as he took 5-for 20.
OUT! Yamin Ahmadzai c Jongwe b Cremer 0 (12)
OUT! Dawlat Zadran c Ervine b Cremer 1 (12)
OUT! Mirwais Ashraf st †Mutumbami b Cremer 3 (12)
Live Cricket Score, Afghanistan 127/7 in overs 33, Batting: Dawlat Zadran 0(2), Mirwais Ashraf 3(10): Afghanistan again lose a couple of wickets and it’s Dawlat Zadran now who has walked out to bat. He has played some useful knocks before to save his side and score big and is expected to do the same today. The Zimbabwe bowlers, especially Graeme Cremer has done exceptionally well as he has picked 2 crucial wickets so far.
OUT! Najibullah Zadran c Ervine b Cremer 16 (32)
OUT! Samiullah Shenwari c Chigumbura b Sikandar Raza 3 (7)
Live Cricket Score, Afghanistan 104/5 in overs 26, Batting: Najibullah Zadran 0(7), Samiullah Shenwari 0(1): Two very important wickets for Zimbabwe as a well set Noor Ali Zadran departs making 63 following a bizarre run-out of skipper Stanikzai. There was no need of that run as Zadran was doing his bit at the other end. The misunderstanding between them have landed them in trouble now. Great presence of mind by Sikandar Raza who quickly threw the ball to get Stanikzai while Chibhabha’s delivery got a feather edge of Zadran’s bat before landing into the Zimbabwe keeper’s gloves.
OUT! Noor Ali Zadran c Mutumbami(wk) b Chibhabha 63 (82)
OUT! Asghar Stanikzai run out 9 (32)
Live Cricket Score, Afghanistan 66/2 in overs 18, Batting: Noor Ali Zadran 48(61), Asghar Stanikzai 3(13): Afghanistan have lost three early wickets and skipper Asghar Stanikzai comes in. Noor Ali Zadran at the other end looks set, while the skipper is potent enough to build a stable partnership with him. Both need to keep their calm and settle down. Zadran is close to his half century while the Zimbabwe bowlers are doing a commendable job.
OUT! Nawroz Mangal c Chigumbura b Cremer 4 (9)
Live Cricket Score, Afghanistan 66/2 in overs 12, Batting: Noor Ali Zadran 25(20), Nawroz Mangal 3(5): Another wicket goes down as Mohammad Nabi departs. Zimbabwe are doing exactly what they are supposed to do. Jongwe took a brilliant catch at third man as Nabi produced a thick outside edge.
OUT! Mohammad Nabi c Jongwe b Muzarabani 17 (18)
Live Cricket Score, Afghanistan 31/1 in overs 5, Batting: Noor Ali Zadran 25(20), Mohammad Nabi 0(3): Back to back boundaries from Noor Ali Zadran and Afghanistan are strongly off the mark. They have lost one important wicket as well as young Wellington Masakadza picked up the power-hitter Mohammad Shahzad. If Zimbabwe manage to get a few more wickets now, Afghanistan will be in danger.
OUT! Mohammad Shahzad c Jongwe b Masakadza 5 (7)
AFGHANISTAN XI: Noor Ali Zadran, Mohammad Shahzad, Mohammad Nabi, Azghar Stanikzai(c), Samiullah Shenwari, Nawraz Mangal, Najibullah Zadran, Yamin Ahmadzai, Mirwaiz Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Amir Hamza
ZIMBABWE XI: Chamu Chibhabha, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura(c), Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Richmond Mutumbami(wk), Wellington Masakadza, Taurai Muzarabani, Luke Jongwe, Graeme Cremer
TOSS: Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat
@ACBofficials Cricket Team Warm up for 1st ODI #AlokozayCup2015. #AFGvZIM2015 pic.twitter.com/Sin1wuSTjH
— Afghan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 25, 2015
Considering the match being played in Sharjah, it is expected to be a flat track which means the batsman would be the ones to watch out for. The match is expected to be a high-scoring one. Although Afghanistan do not have many power hitters, they could still be a threat owing to their good batting skills. As for Zimbabwe, the tracks will not suit them perfectly but they have enough experienced players to pull through. The match is expected to be a thriller. Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2015-16, 1st ODI at Sharjah, Preview
Squads:
Afghanistan: Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Asghar Stanikzai (c), Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Mirwais Ashraf, Rokhan Barakzai, Dawlat Zadran, Karim Sadiq, Rahmat Shah, Sayed Shirzad, Usman Ghani, Nawaz Khan, Amir Hamza, Yamin Ahmadzai, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Rashid Khan, Noor Ali Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi.
Zimbabwe: Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura (c), Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Graeme Cremer, Wellington Masakadza, Tinashe Panyangara, Taurai Muzarabani, Tendai Chisoro, Neville Madziva, Luke Jongwe, Peter Moor.
Live Cricket Scorecard: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2015-16, 1st ODI at Sharjah
