AFG vs ZIM Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! ALL OVER FOR ZIMBABWE! Pace off delivery on the full, on off. Newman Nyamhuri tries to launch it over long off but ends up miscuing off the toe end toward deep mid off. Rashid Khan comes in from the ropes and completes the catch. Afghanistan win by 37 runs and go 1-0 up in the series. Zimbabwe are dismissed for 140.

SIX! He made it look easy! On a length, on the leg. Wellington Masakadza helps it over the long leg fence for a biggie.

Full and at the stumps. Newman Nyamhuri stays deep in the crease and whips it away toward deep backward square leg for a single.

Back of a length on the hip. Wellington Masakadza tucks it through backward square leg for a single.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Azmatullah Omarzai gets two in two! Good length delivery, nips back into the middle stump line. Ernest Masuku is beaten for pace and the swing as the ball zips through the gate and crashes into the stumps. Zimbabwe are nine down.

OUT! LBW! Omarzai gets into the wickets. Full-pitched delivery, almost a yorker, on the middle and leg. Evans tries to heave it across the line but misses and gets pinned in front. Appeal from the bowler and up goes the finger. Eight down now.

Full and at the stumps. Evans tries to hack it across the line but gets an inside edge that rolls through square leg for a couple.

WIDE! Slower ball on a length, down the leg. Evans lets it go for a wide.

Flatter arm ball, on the middle. Evans punches it toward deep cover for a single. Zimbabwe are 129/7 after 18 overs. 49 needed off 12 balls.

Tossed up full, around off. Newman Nyamhuri lifts it over extra cover for a single.

OUT! ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! Flatter and quicker, sliding into the off stump line. Wessly Madhevere stays back and tries to pull it out of the park. He gets the height but not enough distance and is taken by Atal at the long on boundary. Zimbabwe lose their seventh wicket.

Flatter and quicker, around off. Wessly Madhevere slaps it toward the deep extra cover region and they settle for two more.

SIX! BOOM! Floated full, at the stumps. Wessly Madhevere clears the front leg and launches it over long on for half a dozen.

Flat and wide outside off. Wessly Madhevere slaps it hard toward deep extra cover, and they scamper for the double. A run out check at the bowler's end but Evans just makes his ground.

Another pace off delivery, short of a good length, angled across. Wessly Madhevere steers it toward backward point for a single.

FOUR! Innovative! Pace off, short of a good length on middle. Wessly Madhevere reverse ramps it over the man at short third for a cheeky boundary.

Back of a length, angled into the middle. Evans miscues the pull toward the deep mid-wicket region for a single.

Pace off, back of a length on middle. Evans gets on top of the bounce and defends onto the pitch.

Slower ball on a length, around off. Evans plays and misses.

OUT! SHARP CATCH SENDS BURL PACKING! Pace off delivery, on a shortish length, around off. Burl slaps it hard toward extra cover, where Shahidullah Kamal plucks out his left hand and grabs a brilliant chance to remove Burl for 32. Zimbabwe are six down and in a spot of bother.

Googly, just outside off. Burl taps it toward point for a single. Zimbabwe need 67 off the last 4 overs.

Flatter and wider outside off. Wessly Madhevere cuts it away toward deep point for a single.

Fraction short, around off. Burl pulls it toward deep mid-wicket for one.

Googly, turning into the middle stump line. Wessly Madhevere punches it down to long on for one.

OUT! LBW! Rashid Khan gets his second. Flatter leg break, turning into the middle-and-leg-stump line. Tadiwanashe Marumani tries to hack it across the line but misses and gets pinned on the pad. Big appeal from the bowler, and up goes the finger. Marumani goes now, and Zimbabwe are five down.

FOUR! Belted! Tad short, just outside off. Tadiwanashe Marumani goes back and hammers it hard through the mid-wicket region for a powerful boundary.

Yorker, just outside off. Marumani squeezes it toward the man at backward point and takes one. After 15 overs, Zimbabwe are 103/4.

Short of a good length on off. Burl pulls it toward deep mid-wicket and they settle for a single.

WIDE! Pitched full, just outside the tramline. Burl lets it go for a wide.

Short of a good length, around off. Burl pulls it hard into the gap at cow corner region for a brace. 100 comes up for Zimbabwe.

Slower full ball on off. Marumani is deceived by the change of pace and chips it over mid off for a single.

Pace off on a length, just outside off. Marumani plays and misses.

Full pitcher, around off. Burl strokes it toward deep cover for a single.

Flatter on the middle and leg. Burl flicks it through square leg for a single.

Flatter, turning into the middle and leg. Marumani chips it through mid-wicket for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Mujeeb Ur Rahman gets the Zimbabwe skipper. A juicy full toss on the middle stump line. Raza tries to heave it out of the park but ends up miscuing toward the deep mid-wicket region. Azmatullah Omarzai runs around the boundary and takes a sharp grab. Zimbabwe are four down.

Fired in full, just outside off. Raza makes room to drill it through covers but fails to connect.

FOUR! Over the top! Tossed up full, around off. Raza swings hard and lifts it inside out toward the deep extra cover region for a cracking boundary.

SIX! Up and away! Looped up full, carrom ball, just outside off. Raza picks it early and launches it over long off for half a dozen.

Lands it on a length, turns back into the middle and leg. Raza clips it through mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter on the middle and leg. Burl works it through square leg for a single.

SIX! BANG! Tossed up full, in the slot, on middle. Burl heaves it over the deep square leg fence for a massive hit.

Floated full, outside off. Burl has lofted this toward the widish long off region for a couple of runs.

Flatter googly, turning into the middle and leg. Burl looks to tuck it across but gets an inside edge onto the pad.

SIX! In the arc and out of the park. Flighted full, at the stumps. Burl clears the front leg and smokes it over the long on fence for half a dozen.

DROPPED! Floated full, a hint of spin away around off. Burl tries to slog it across the line but gets a leading edge that lobs toward the short third region. A valiant effort from Fazalhaq Farooqi but he cannot hold onto the chance.

Fuller and quicker at the stumps. Raza prods to defend, gets a thick outside edge that rolls to backward point for a single. 25 balls since the last boundary now.

Tossed up on the middle and leg. Raza slogs it on the bounce toward deep square leg and the batters scamper for the double.

Looped up full, on off. Raza gets forward and keeps it out.

Fuller googly, turning into the leg stump line. Raza gets too far across for the sweep but misses onto the pad. Big appeal from the bowler is turned down.

Good length googly just outside off. Gets down on a knee and sweeps to deep midwicket for a single.

Looped up full, on the middle stump line. Burl heaves it away along the carpet toward deep square leg for a single.

Leg break, turning into the middle and leg. Raza nudges it toward square leg and they settle for a single.

Looped up full, on the middle and leg. Burl slogs it off the inner half toward deep mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter on the leg. Raza nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up full, just outside off. Raza drives it toward short cover.

Tad short, on the middle and leg. Burl pulls it toward deep mid-wicket and they settle for a single.

Fuller than a good length on off. Burl reverses it toward backward point for a single. At the halfway mark, Zimbabwe are 58/3.

Full googly on middle and leg, Burl turns it to short mid-wicket

Tossed up on the middle and leg. Raza nudges into the leg side and scampers for a quick single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Bennett perishes now! Tosses it full, turning into the middle-stump line. Brian Bennett crouches low and looks to launch it over long on but fails to get the desired elevation or distance. Shahidullah Kamal, near the boundary, takes a simple catch. Bennett goes for 13. Zimbabwe are three down.

Flighted full, just outside off. Burl eases it down to long off for one.

Tossed up full, on off. Burl pushes it back to the bowler.

Leg break, on a length and spinning away around off. Burl punches it through covers for a single.

The googly, sliding across and turning away from the batter, around off. Brian Bennett punches it toward deep cover for one.

Flatter wrong'un, turning into the middle stump line. Burl works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up full, on off. Bennett drills it down to long off for a single.

Googly on a length, Burl tucks it to square-leg for a quick single.

WIDE! Flatter, sliding down the leg. Burl plays and misses. Wide signaled.

Tossed up full, on off. Bennett looks to work it leg side, gets a soft leading edge through point for a single.

OUT! TIMBER! Rashid Khan has the last laugh against Innocent Kaia. Flatter googly spins back sharply into the middle and leg stump line. Kaia had no clue on how to play the ball, ends up playing all around it. The ball sneaks through the gap and hits the top of the stumps. Kaia goes for 24, and Zimbabwe are 48/2 after 8 overs.

Tossed up full, on off. Innocent Kaia strokes it to the left of the bowler, where Rashid Khan makes a fine stop.

FOUR! Punished! Short and down the leg. Kaia stays back and helps away the pull shot toward fine leg for a welcome boundary.

Flighted full, on off. Kaia presses forward in defence.

Flatter leg break, just outside off. Kaia looks to cut but misses and gets beaten on the under edge.

Flatter googly, turning into the middle and leg. Kaia looks to pull but misses and wears on the pad.

Full and quick at the stumps. Kaia strokes it down to long off for a single.

WIDE! Flatter, sliding down the leg. Kaia looks to paddle it but misses. Another wide.

Flighted full, turning into the middle and leg. Kaia tries to work it across the line but gets an inside edge onto the pad.

Tossed up full, on off. Kaia defends it forward.

WIDE! Fuller and quicker, down the leg. Kaia plays and misses. Wide signaled.

Tossed up full, on the middle and leg. Kaia heaves it off the inner half, goes along the ground toward fine leg for a couple.

Fuller and quicker on off. Kaia bunts it back to the bowler.

Tossed up on off. Bennett eases it down to long on for one.

A sharp googly, spins back into the middle and leg stump line. Kaia sets up to cut it away but the ball spins in and hits him on the back pad. Zimbabwe are 38/1 after the Powerplay.

Wrong'un, turning into the middle and leg. Brian Bennett works it through mid-wicket for one.

Fuller googly, sliding past the leg stump. Bennett makes room to go inside out but fails to connect.

Quicker leg break, around off. Bennett cuts it to the man at short cover.

Flatter googly, at the stumps. Kaia punches it down to long on for one.

Tossed up on the middle and leg. Bennett works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Quicker again, attacking the stumps. Kaia gets a good stride forward and keeps it out. After 5 overs, Zimbabwe are 35/1.

Fuller and quicker on off. Kaia keeps it out.

Flighted full, on off. Kaia presses forward and defends into the off side.

WIDE! Fuller and quicker, sliding down the leg. Kaia plays and misses. A third wide in the over.

WIDE! Fraction short, down the leg. Kaia looks to pull but misses. Wide signaled.

Tossed up on the middle and leg. Kaia nudges it through the gap at mid-wicket and they take two.

Flatter off-break, turning into the middle and leg. Bennett punches it down to long on for one.

WIDE! Fuller, sliding down the leg. Bennett plays and misses. Wided.

Flatter delivery, just outside off. Bennett pushes it toward the man at short extra cover.

SIX! All the way! A bumper around the left shoulder. Kaia gets into a good position, picks it early, and hooks it over the fine leg fence for half a dozen.

On a length, just outside off. Kaia shimmies down the track to heave it across the line but misses.

FOUR! Put away! A low full toss on the pad. Kaia flicks it away toward deep square leg for a much needed boundary.

Full pitcher, on off. Kaia strokes it toward the man at mid off.

Back of a length on the middle stump line. Bennett charges down the track and hacks it toward the deep mid-wicket region for three runs.

On a hard length, on off. Kaia taps into the off side and crosses for a single.

A sharp bouncer, thudding flush into his shoulders! Rocketed straight at Kaia, with perhaps a touch of glove, as the ball trickled away behind him. He’s off in a flash, sprinting through to the other end, and the umpire signals runs for the batter.

Slower ball on the full, just outside off. Kaia squeezes it toward the man at short third.

Good length delivery, swings back into the middle and leg stump line. Kaia shimmies down and whips it off the inner half toward the fine leg region. A fine diving effort from Ijaz Ahmadzai keeps it to a couple.

Fuller than a good length, nips back into the middle stump line. Kaia prods to defend, but plays the wrong line and is pinned in front. Appeal from the bowler for LBW, but the umpire turns it down. Probably going over the stumps as Afghanistan do not take the review.

OUT! TAKEN! Fazalhaq Farooqi draws first blood. Back of a length, angled into the middle stump line. Curran tries to hack it across the line but gets rushed for pace and miscues the pull toward Azmatullah Omarzai at mid-wicket region, who completes the catch. Curran goes for just 7. Zimbabwe are rocked early in the chase.

Curran misses out on a freebie! A slower ball, full toss on the middle stump line. Curran gets inside the line and helps it toward short fine leg.

Slower ball on the full, on the leg. Curran clips it through backward square leg for one.

Back of a length, just outside off. Curran mistimes the pull, comes off the toe end and rolls toward mid-wicket fielder.

Short of a good length, moving away around off. Bennett dabs it to the left of the backward point fielder for a single.

Fuller than a length on off. Curran drives it on the up toward mid off for a single.

FOUR! Whacked! Back of a length, just outside off. Sits up nicely for Curran, who hammers the pull shot through mid-wicket for a cracking boundary.

LEG BYE! Short of a good length, it jags back into the leg stump line. Bennett tries to tuck it across the line but misses, and it hits the thigh pad. The ball rolls through the gap at gully for a leg bye.

Back of a length, angled into the middle. Curran hops and tucks into the mid-wicket region. Tidy over from Fazalhaq Farooqi.

On a hard length, on off. Brian Bennett dabs it toward the man at backward point for a single.

Slower ball on the full, just outside off. Brian Bennett tries to hack it across the line but gets an inside edge onto the pad.

Full pitcher, almost a yorker on off. Brian Bennett bunts it down the track.

Short of a good length, a hint of swing, around off. Curran taps into the off side and takes a single.

WIDE! Pitched full, angling down the leg. Ben Curran plays and misses. Wide signaled.

Farooqi starts with a good length delivery, swings back into the middle and leg stump line. Brian Bennett tries to work it across the line but gets an inside edge onto the pad, rolling toward point for a single.