Stanikzai scored his seventh ODI fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

The crucial wicket of Zimbabwe debutant Ryan Burl, coupled with heavy rain, saw Afghanistan claim a 12-run win via the Duckworth-Lewis method in the first ODI in Harare.

Choosing to bat first, Afghanistan lost opener Mohammad Shahzad early on for eight runs, but Noor Ali Zadran and Rahmat Shah made up for it with scores of 39 and 31 respectively.

Hashmatullah Shahidi made a useful 21, but the star of the show for Afghanistan was captain Asghar Stanikzai, who struck 50 off 57 balls, which included a boundary and two sixes.

Afghanistan lost wickets in a hurry after Stanikzai’s departure, but a quickfire 32 not out by Rashid Khan allowed the tourists to reach 215 before being bowled out.

Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Tendai Chatara and Chris Mpofu snapped up two wickets apiece. Debutant Richard Ngarava and Sikandar Raza, meanwhile, chipped in with one wicket each.

Initially chasing 216 to win, Zimbabwe were dealt three blows as Solomon Mire, Peter Moor and Raza were all dismissed in quick succession.

Craig Ervine and Burl stemmed the bleeding with a 55-run stand before Burl was trapped lbw off the bowling of Rashid for 28.

Just a ball later, the heavens parted and the players were ushered off the field. But, while the rain did stop, the outfield seemed to be too wet to play on and Duckworth-Lewis eventually came into play, which led to Afghanistan being declared the winners.

Rashid, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi and Amir Hamza claimed one wicket each.

Stanikzai was named Man of the Match.