Copyright news18
The second T20 International of the series sees a resurgent Zimbabwe side desperate to level the score against a confident Afghanistan team that is looking to seal the series early. The hosts will need to quickly shake off the crushing defeat in the opener, which saw their top order fall apart completely against a fiery Afghan bowling attack. Despite the overall poor show, the impressive fight from the lower order, especially Tinotenda Mapusa and Brad Evans, offers a glimmer of hope that they can compete if their main batters step up. Afghanistan will be brimming with confidence after their clinical 53-run victory, having delivered a balanced performance with both bat and ball. The opening partnership of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided the perfect launchpad, and they will rely on this explosive start again to post another challenging total at the Harare Sports Club. Ibrahim Zadran, fresh off a brilliant half-century, and the impactful cameo from debutant Shahidullah Kamal show the depth in their batting. The real key to Afghanistan’s dominance, however, lies in their bowlers. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, with his brilliant four-wicket haul, and Azmatullah Omarzai, who bounced back strongly after an expensive first over to grab three crucial wickets, proved too much for the Zimbabwean lineup. Skipper Rashid Khan will be looking for a repeat performance, knowing that their spin attack is a formidable weapon on these pitches. For Zimbabwe, the focus must shift to their top-order batting. The collapse to 30/5 in the Powerplay of the first game was the defining moment of the match, and key players like Brian Bennett will need to convert their quick starts into substantial innings. Captain Sikandar Raza, who was excellent with the ball, taking 3/20, will be expected to deliver a match-winning performance with the bat to inspire a turnaround. This second match becomes a must-win for Zimbabwe to keep the series alive, while Afghanistan has the chance to wrap up a statement series victory. So, which side will come out on top? We shall find out.
