T20I world cup 2016 ninth match will be played between AFG v ZIM today at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur (India). Both teams played two matches each of them and won both of them yet. Today’s match will be their third match. Afghanistan’s convincing victory against Full Members Zimbabwe in a knockout match secured their spot in the World T20 main draw for a third time.
Afghanistan overcame a mid-innings lull and built on a solid start to produce a total Zimbabwe never seemed like they could chase thanks to a career-best 52 from Mohammad Nabi. Following two improbable victories in the qualifying round, Zimbabwe faced their most difficult challenge when Afghanistan challenged their bowling and then required the highest-ever successful chase from them.
Even though Zimbabwe’s top order did not collapse as often as it had in earlier games, they were unable to maintain the necessary run rate, particularly in the face of a spin-stifling onslaught. Zimbabwe had been given a comparable goal by Afghanistan in Sharjah in January. Then, owing to Malcolm Waller’s fierce combat, Zimbabwe came dangerously near. Like the rest of his teammates, he struggled to score easily this time around due to turn-related issues.
Afghanistan began the competition as aggressively as they had throughout, with Mohammad Shahzad taking on Donald Tiripano and Tendai Chatara on a sluggish and sticky surface. Regardless of the length or line, he swung hard, and when he reverse-swept Sean Williams straight to point, he stumbled over himself. Afghanistan had amassed 49 runs in less than five overs, with Shahzad accounting for 40 of those runs.
The ball popped out of Richmond Mutumbami’s hands, and Mohammad Nabi should have been stumped on 20 when he charged against Wellington Masakadza, but Zimbabwe only gave up 24 runs in the following five overs. Additionally, they believed they had Samiullah Shenwari caught at deep midwicket for seventeen, but the third umpire ruled Waller not out after reviewing his low diving catch. The two rode their good fortune.
52 of the 98 runs they scored for the fifth wicket came after the 15th over, when Shenwari and Nabi attacked Masakadza’s short deliveries and Tinashe Panyangara’s statistics were out of shape. Despite conceding 28 runs in the final two overs and seeing Shenwari hole out to deep midwicket and Nabi run out after reaching fifty, Zimbabwe was unable to halt the hemorrhage.
Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza took a cautious approach to their pursuit. Masakadza’s aggressiveness did not last long as he only managed one boundary, which came in the third over when he placed a Dawlat Zadran ball over deep square leg. He attempted to replicate the same move against Hamid Hassan, but was bowled after failing to throw a full and straight delivery.
Sibanda appeared prepared to take on the more mature role he had in the opening game against Hong Kong, but Afghanistan had a secret weapon. Rashid Khan, a 17-year-old legspinner, was brought in as soon as the Powerplay concluded. Sibanda top-edged and swept, making a straightforward catch for Hamid. In the following over for ten, Mutumbami holed out, like he did in every other innings of the qualifiers thus far.
Williams and Waller were gradually constructing, but each delivery they failed to score on really cost Zimbabwe. On 58 for 3, they barely made it to the halfway point. Waller misplayed Shenwari’s line, getting bowled before Rashid had Williams stumped, ending Zimbabwe’s resistance. Shenwari, Rashid, and Nabi persisted in confusing Zimbabwe’s batsmen with spin, to the extent that none of them could score more than 17 runs.
The one who succeeded, Panyangara, was only amusing himself as the game was about to conclude. For the second time, Zimbabwe was eliminated from the competition before it had officially begun after losing their final five wickets for 37 runs. Zimbabwe did not qualify in 2014 either, and another setback will cast doubt on the caliber of their cricket. Ultimately, Afghanistan—the team most likely to challenge the big boys—have good reason to be happy.
Zimbabwe team: 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 4 Sean Williams, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Peter Moor/Chamu Chibhabha/Malcolm Waller, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Donald Tiripano, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Tendai Chatara
Afghanistan team: 1 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2 Noor Ali Zadran, 3 Asghar Stanikzai (capt), 4 Mohammad Nabi,5 Gulbaddin Naib, 6 Shafiqullah, 7 Dawlat Zadran, 8 Najibullah Zadran, 9 Samiullah Shemwari, 10 Rashid Khan, 11 Hamid Hassan/Amir Hamza
