ZIM vs AFG: Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi feels his side need to improve their fielding skills

ZIM vs AFG: Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi stated his side has to improve their fielding after a 21-run win over Zimbabwe in the second T20I of the three-match series.

Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 21 runs in the second T20I of the three-match series at Harare on Sunday, with Najibullah Zadran and Rashid Khan shining.

“God total on the board. Pitch was aiding the bowlers who took pace off. Zimbabwe batted well at the end. Farooqi bowled brilliantly at the end, that’s why the match changed. He is very good in the middle and he can finish well too. Farooqi was outstanding with the ball. Fielders dropped a few catches, so we need to improve,” said Nabi in a post-match presentation.

The Afghans had a good day on the field, as they outperformed their opponents in every category. Afghanistan now leads the series 2-0 with one match remaining.

Afghanistan, batting first, got off to a rocky start, losing their first three hitters for just 46 runs in the sixth over. Darwish Rasooli was forced to quit due to injury. The innings was then stabilised by Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat, but their promising stand was cut short at the 37-run mark when the latter was bowled for 12 by spinner Ryan Burl.

Then came Mohammad Nabi to the crease. He and Zadran shared a 70-run stand that ended with Zadran dismissed for a well-made 57 off 46 in the penultimate ball of the 19th over.

With Rashid Khan (2*), Nabi finished with an exciting 43* off 22 with one four and four sixes. In their 20 overs, Afghanistan reached 170/5.

Tendai Chatara (2/33) was also his team’s most effective bowler. Luke Jongwe and Ryan Burl both took a wicket.

With 171 to chase, Zimbabwe got off to a rough start, losing Wessley Madhevere for eight runs. Then, after dismissing Marumani for 30, opener Innocent Kaia and Tadiwanashe Marumani rebuilt Zimbabwe’s innings, putting up a 50-run stand that quickly ended by Nabi. Craig Ervine, the skipper, also left for two days.

Then Kaia and Sikander Raza put up a 70-run partnership that culminated with Raza caught for 41 runs on 21 pitches. Also the rest of the batters couldn’t keep up with Kaia, who scored 54 runs on 57 pitches.

In their 20 overs, Zimbabwe dismissed for 149/7. After falling 21 runs short of what could have been a series-leveling victory.

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