Afghanistan are all smiles after whitewashing Zimbabwe 2-0

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad continued to be a thorn in Zimbabwe’s side as he made history during his team’s 81-run win in the second and final Twenty20 International in Sharjah.

Shahzad blasted an unbeaten 118 to break the record for the highest individual score by an Associate nation player in a Twenty20 International. His spectacular knock is now also the fourth-highest score in Twenty20 International history.

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura would have been regretting his decision to bowl first as Shahzad dominated the tourists from the start of Afghanistan’s innings right to the end.

Despite getting mediocre support from the rest of his team-mates, Shahzad put his team on his shoulders and carried them to a mammoth score of 215/6 off their 20 overs as result of his innings of 118, which came off 67 balls and included 10 boundaries and eight sixes.

Shahzad celebrates after scoring his maiden Twenty20 International century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Donald Tiripano, Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chisoro, Chamu Chibhabha and Graeme Cremer picked up one wicket apiece.

Chasing 216 to win, Zimbabwe struggled right from the get-go as Hamilton Masakadza and Peter Moor were the only two batsmen to have an impact.

Masakadza scored 63 off 44 balls, which included two boundaries and five sixes, while Moor made 35. However, their efforts went in vain as Zimbabwe were skittled out for 134.

Masakadza made a gutsy 63

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Dawlat Zadran, Amir Hamza and Sayed Shirzad took two wickets apiece, while Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan claimed one wicket each.

Shahzad was named Man of the Match and Man of the Series.