ZIM vs AFG: Afghanistan decimate Zimbabwe in Harare, record their biggest ODI win

ZIM vs AFG: Afghanistan decimate Zimbabwe in Harare, record their biggest ODI win
Afghanistan stormed to their biggest ODI win (by margin of runs) after hammering Zimbabwe by 232 runs on Thursday, December 19 at the Harare Sports Club.Their previous biggest win was in September 2024 when they defeated South Africa by 177 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Meanwhile, in Harare, defending 286, the Afghans bowled the home team out for 54 in 17.5 overs.
Sediqullah Atal set up the victory with his maiden ODI hundred, after which the quartet of Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Allah Ghazanfar and Naveed Zadran tormented the opposition. The Afghans also took a 1-0 lead in the series with the last ODI to be held on December 21 in Harare.
After being asked to bat first, Afghanistan scored 286 for the loss of six wickets. Atal and Abdul Malik laid the platform with a massive partnership of 191 for the opening wicket off 35 overs. Malik was unlucky to not reach his century, scoring 84 off 101 before Newman Nyamhuri accounted for his wicket.
Atal, on the other hand, went on to play until the 43rd over, making 104 runs off 128 balls with eight fours and four sixes. Hashmatullah Shahidi also added 29 valuable runs. For Zimbabwe, Nyamhuri was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 10-0-53-3. Trevor Gwandu took two wickets, but leaked 70 runs.
Zimbabwe fall like nine pins
After Ben Curran got run out for a six-ball duck, Zimbabwe could not garner any momentum whatsoever. Barring Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza, none of the Zimbabwean batter got into double digits. Apart from Curran, Brian Bennett, Gwandu and Tinotenda Maposa also fell for ducks.
Ghazanfar, who was picked to play for MI in IPL 2025, picked up three wickets to finish with figures of 3.5-2-9-3. Zadran also impressed with a spell of 3-1-13-3. Farooqi did not disappoint either after taking two wickets. Omarzai got the crucial wicket of Dion Myers. Big Win For Indians: New H-1B Visa Rules Promise Faster Appointments In 2025!