Blast from the past: 5 best T20Is between Afghanistan and Bangladesh
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are set to resume their rivalry in T20Is on Wednesday (March 17) with a three-match series. Both the teams first faced off in T20I cricket in 2015 and have played nine T20Is since. Afghanistan have the upper hand in the rivalry so far. While they have won eight games, Zimbabwe have managed to win just one T20I.
As they gear up for another T20I series, we take a look at five best T20Is between them so far:
5. Bulawayo – 2015
This was a historic affair as it was the first-ever T20I between the two teams. Playing at home against Afghanistan who were trying to find their feet in international cricket, Zimbabwe started as the favourites. However, they ended up losing the game by six wickets. Batting first, the hosts posted a challenging total of 153/5 in 20 overs with Sikandar Raza and Chamu Chibhabha scoring fifties. In reply, Afghanistan chased down the total in 19.1 overs.
4. Chattogram – 2019
The last meeting between the two teams took place in the 2019 T20I tri-series in Bangladesh. It was a game to remember for Zimbabwe as they beat Afghanistan to win their first T20I against them after eight straight losses. Batting first, Afghanistan finished their innings on 155 for 8. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored with 61. In reply, Zimbabwe chased down the total with three balls remaining thanks to Hamilton Masakadza’s fifty. Playing his last international game, Masakadza scored 71 off just 42 balls to help his team win.
3. Nagpur – 2016
This was the first-ever game between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe at an ICC event as they locked horns in the first round of the 2016 T20 World Cup. Afghanistan had gone on to win the match by 59 runs. Batting first, they posted 186/6 in 20 overs. Mohammad Nabi starred with the bat, scoring 52 off just 32 balls while Samiullah Shinwari (43) and Mohammad Shahzad (40) also played important knocks. In reply, Zimbabwe were all out for just 127 with no player scoring more than their No.10 Tinashe Panyangara’s 17.
2. Sharjah – 2016
Afghanistan’s biggest T20I win over Zimbabwe in terms of runs came in 2016 when both teams locked horns in Sharjah. Asked to bat first, Afghanistan posted a massive total of 215/6 in 20 overs. Mohammad Shahzad was the star of the show, scoring an unbeaten 118. Afghanistan then went on to bowl Zimbabwe out for just 134 to win the game by 81 runs. Dawlat Zadran, Amir Hamza and Sayed Shirzad picked up two wickets each to help Afghanistan register the big win.
1. Sharjah – 2016
It was the only third T20I between the two teams and first outside Zimbabwe. Batting first, Afghanistan posted a big total of 187/7 in the stipulated overs. Opener Usman Ghani top-scored with 42 while the likes of Mohammad Shahzad (33), Mohammad Nabi (26) and Gulbadin Naib (37) also played crucial cameos. For Zimbabwe, Graeme Cremer was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/17 off 4 overs. With the bat, Zimbabwe came up with a good effort but eventually fell short by just 5 runs. The likes of Malcolm Waller (49) and Hamilton Masakadza (33) did well with the bat but Zimbabwe could only score 182 for 7.
