Noor Ahmad Destroys Zimbabwe Lineup
Afghanistan completed a dominant 3-0 series sweep over Zimbabwe in their T20I tour of the UAE, wrapping up the final match with a clinical seven-wicket victory at the
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Afghanistan immediately applied pressure. Zimbabwe struggled to find any rhythm against a disciplined attack, with the innings failing to gain momentum at any stage. Ryan Burl provided the only real resistance, top-scoring with 30 runs off 29 balls, while Wessly Madhevere was the only other batter to reach double figures, contributing 10 off 17 deliveries.
Noor Ahmad proved unplayable on the Sharjah surface, tearing through the middle and lower order to finish with remarkable figures of 5/13 from his 3.3 overs. His spell ensured that Zimbabwe was bundled out for a meager 79, leaving Afghanistan with a straightforward target to chase under the lights.
Steady Chase Secures Series Clean Sweep
Chasing 80 for victory, Afghanistan’s pursuit did not start without a brief moment of tension. The innings suffered an early setback when Mohammad Akram fell with the score at 15 in just the first over. This early breakthrough gave Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope, as they managed to pick up three wickets in total during the chase.
However, the target proved too small for Zimbabwe to defend effectively. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the response with a composed 25 off 17 balls, ensuring the required run rate never became an issue. Supported by Sediqullah Atal, Afghanistan navigated the remaining runs with relative ease, reaching 81/3 to seal the win.
The victory was a fitting conclusion to a one-sided series, with Noor Ahmad’s five-wicket haul standing out as the defining performance of the match. With the 3-0 series result confirmed, Afghanistan demonstrated their superiority throughout the tour, leaving Zimbabwe with few answers to their spin-heavy bowling attack and disciplined batting approach.
