Zadran brings Afghanistan T20 victory after thrilling run chase / Photo: Jekesai NJIKIZANA - AFP
-
Guehi insists players have 'trust and belief' in Man City after charges
-
French PM says could declare state of emergency over unrest 'if needed'
-
UN climate panel head wants swift end to deadlock over key scientific report
-
Albanian PM warns of 'red line' after days of unrest
-
PM calls for curfews in France as govt grapples with unrest
-
Putin, Xi and Trump could meet at APEC summit: Kremlin
-
Man City's Semenyo out for up to eight weeks
-
Microsoft exits data centre deal in blow to UK AI ambitions
-
Australian lawmaker critically hurt in 'violent' vehicle attack
-
European stocks retreat as France violence spreads
-
England women's coach Wiegman signs two-year contract extension
-
North Korea warns 'grave situation' prevailing along border
-
Louvre blocked as France grapples with unrest
-
Raya proud of Arsenal's 'incredible' reaction after third straight win
-
Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff shot at in Mumbai, three suspects held: police
-
Indonesia fires have burned nearly two million hectares: monitor
-
UN biodiversity summit opens with nature goals off track
-
Australian lawmaker 'critically' hurt in attack, officials say
-
'Physical hell': Hong Kong hosts gruelling underwater hockey tournament
-
Indonesia fires burned over 1.9 mn hectares through September: monitor
-
Police 'lost control' during French protests, says interior minister
-
Asian tech stocks mixed after Wall St losses, eyes on earnings
-
Australia's new Ghost Shark submarines grow some 'teeth'
-
China's third-quarter growth narrowly beats forecasts
-
'I call it a bribe': Pennsylvania residents spurn $10,000 data center checks
-
Asian stocks start week on back foot, tracking tech-led Wall St losses
-
In a former US steel city, ordinary people struggle to get by
-
China growth narrowly beats forecasts
-
'Liar,' 'clown': Lula and Bolsonaro spar in Brazil poll debate
-
Faith and fury: Texas Senate rivals offer contrasting visions
-
Record El Nino? Depends who's counting
-
Women await justice for police killings in Brazil
-
On the front line of ocean conservation off Portugal's Madeira
-
The painstaking task of cataloguing the world's species
-
Wembanyama targets title breakthrough as NBA season tips off
-
Nations seek reset at UN talks as nature goals off track
-
With LeBron on board it's title or bust for Philly fans
-
Rubio seeks to strengthen US foothold in Central Asia
-
One year after Louvre heist, where are the missing jewels?
-
LeBron joins 76ers to chase one more NBA title at age 41
-
Knicks face tall task in NBA championship repeat bid
-
Rays one win from World Series return after downing Guardians
-
Warriors' Curry 'fine' after limping out of practice - Kerr
-
Why a Credit Card Should Work as Hard as Its Cardholder
-
INEO Announces Preliminary Q1 Fiscal 2027 Revenue of More Than $1.3 Million and Adjusted EBITDA Near Break-Even
-
CoTec Holdings Corp. Notes HyProMag USA Deployment of Mobile Inserma System, Extending Hard Disk Drive Processing to Customer Sites Across the United States
-
HyProMag USA Deploys Mobile Inserma System, Extending Hard Disk Drive Processing to Customer Sites Across the United States
-
Stillwater Critical Minerals Files NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Updated Stillwater West Mineral Resource Estimate in Montana, USA
-
Mako Mining Announces Q3 2026 Production Results with Gold Recovered of 12,743 oz Au (Sales of 11,581 oz Au), and Positive Permitting Updates at Mt. Hamilton and San Albino
-
Nextech3D.ai Sponsors The Event Planner Expo 2026, Bringing its Recently Launched Agentic AI for Map D to the Event Industry
Zadran brings Afghanistan T20 victory after thrilling run chase
Najibullah Zadran slammed a six off the second ball of the final over to give Afghanistan a six-wicket win against Zimbabwe on Saturday after a thrilling run chase in the first of three Twenty20 internationals.
The dramatic climax seemed unlikely with 10 overs gone as the tourists scored 83 without loss after Zimbabwe posted 159-8 in 20 overs at Harare Sports Club.
Ryan Burl then wreaked havoc with the ball, capturing the wickets of openers Hazratullah Zazai (45) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (33) and Usman Ghani (1) within six balls.
A leading edge from Gurbaz led to a catch for wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva. Zazai followed one ball caught by Sikandar Raza at long on.
Burl claimed his third wicket off the final ball of the over as another Chakabva catch ended the Ghani's two-ball innings.
Batting at number five, Zadran stopped the rot but took time to regain the initiative and the tourists needed 60 runs from the final five overs to triumph.
The run rate gradually increased and when Blessing Muzurabani stepped up to bowl the final over, the Afghans required eight runs, and Zadran wasted no time getting them.
He hit two off the first delivery, then walloped his third six of a 25-ball stand to lift the Afghans to 160-4 and continue a successful tour after a 3-0 victory in a one-day international series.
Zadran, a 30-year-old left-hand batsman, struck two fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 41-minute stay at the crease.
Earlier, middle-order batsman Raza top scored with 45 for Zimbabwe on a hard, brown-grass, batting-friendly track.
Opener Wessley Madhevere (32) and Regis Chakabva (29) were the other Zimbabweans to make significant contributions while six of their teammates failed to reach 10.
Debutant Najit Masood, a right-arm medium pacer, was the most impressive Afghan bowler taking three wickets, including those of Raza and Chakabva.
Pakistan-born Raza, whose T20 batting average is a modest 13.4, was out to a brilliant catch at third man by Hazratullah Zazai having faced 31 deliveries and struck three fours and two sixes.
A googly from Rashid Khan spelt the end of Madhevere while a leading edge from Chakabva was caught at mid-off by captain Mohammad Nabi.
The remaining two T20 internationals will also be in Harare, on Sunday and Tuesday.
D.Johnson--AT
