The third ODI of the ongoing ODI series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe was place. The two sides clashed on Saturday, December 21 at the Harare Sports Club. It is important to note that Afghanistan won the second ODI of the series after an incredible display, while the first ODI was called off without a result.
Zimbabwe lost the toss and had to bat first in the opening ODI of the series. With openers Joylord Gumbie and Ben Curran scoring three and twelve runs, respectively, the team got off to a poor start. Not to mention Craig Ervine left for five runs as well.
The knock of Sean Williams stabilised Zimbabwe’s innings when the top order was cheaply dismissed. In the first innings, the hosts scored 127 runs thanks to 60 runs from Williams in 61 deliveries and 13 more from Sikandar Raza.
Regarding Afghanistan, AM Ghazanfar claimed five wickets, the most of any player in the first innings. Azmatullah Omarzai and Fareed Ahmad both claimed one wicket, while Rashid Khan claimed three.
Afghanistan wins the series with a commanding run chase.
Afghanistan began their innings with Sediqullah Atal scoring 52 and Abdul Malik scoring 29 runs, respectively, with the intention of chasing down a goal of 128 runs. Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi both remained undefeated with respective scores of 17 and 20 runs as Afghanistan chased down the mark and won the match with 139 balls left.
With one wicket apiece, Trevor Gwandu and Richard Ngarava were Zimbabwe’s only wicket-takers. Following the conclusion of the ODI series, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will now concentrate on the two-game Test series. Beginning on December 26, the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo will host the first Test.
Here’s how X reacted to the third ODI between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan:
Afg has the best spin attack in international cricket atm 🔥#ZIMvsAFG
— 🆁🅾🅻🅴🆇ᶜʳⁱᶜᵏᵉᵗᵍᵉᵉᵏ (@RoshanSriram123) December 21, 2024
Sean Williams brings up his fifty – his 36th in ODIs!#ZIMvAFG #VisitZimbabwe 📝 https://t.co/Gr0FHpLuSi pic.twitter.com/AuO0hY39G5
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) December 21, 2024
Just happy to see him making runs. To many more… aging like fine wine 🍷 The Williams we know. #ZIMvsAFG #cricket https://t.co/fIkupO0Oy1
— Natalie Dexter (@natsdexter) December 21, 2024
RECKLESS!
Sean Williams threws his wicket away after scoring a six in the same over.
Zimbabwe still had 22 overs to play with two wickets left.
Ngarava is handy with the bat as we know.#ZIMvsAFG— Broken Stumps 🏏 (@brokenstumps) December 21, 2024
Second consecutive 50+ runs for Future GOAT Sediq Atal 🤩🙌 #ZIMvsAFG
— Team ℛashid Khan (@RashidKhanRK19) December 21, 2024
Afghanistan team played their last white ball series of the year. #ZIMvsAFG pic.twitter.com/LPv8NcR9us
— ACB Xtra (@acb_190) December 21, 2024
ZIM v AFG, 3rd ODI
AFG 131-2 (26.5)
ZIM 127 (30.1)
Afghanistan won by 8 wkts#ZimvsAfg pic.twitter.com/oOwrSFVNhV— The Gorilla (News & Updates) (@iGorilla19) December 21, 2024
This is 1st time Rashid Khan has bowled in the ODI series, and he gets a wicket in his 1st over 😂😂#ZIMvsAFG
— Hon. MatopeNigel (@MatopeNigell) December 21, 2024
India
