Masakadza gets perfect farewell

Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza led his team to a commanding seven-wicket win against Afghanistan in what was his swansong from international cricket at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Friday.   

Masakadza, one of the longest serving players for Zimbabwe, earlier announced that this will be his last international series.

As Zimbabwe were already of the tournament, Friday's match against Afghanistan was his last match in national colors.

Chasing 156 to win, Masakadza scored a match winning 71 off just 42 deliveries with four fours and five sixes.

Masakadza and Brendan Taylor’s opening partnership gave Zimbabwe a good start. 

Taylor though departed in the fifth over but Masakadza was flawless from the beginning, playing some outstanding shots all over the ground in his brilliant knock.

Host @BCBtigers will face @ACBofficials in their last group stage match of the tri-nation T20I series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Saturday, starting at 6:30pm.https://t.co/xYl1qau51w#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #AFGHANISTANCRICKET #ACB

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 20, 2019

Masakadza got out caught at deep midwicket in the fifth ball of the 13th over against pacer Dawlat Zadran while trying to clear the boundary.

Regis Chakabva contributed 39 at No 4 as Zimbabwe reached their target with three balls to spare.  

Earlier, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan elected to bat first and they were off to a blistering start as their opening pair Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai posted 83 for the opening stand in just 9.2 overs.

Zazai was the first batsman to be dismissed for 31 off 24 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes. 

But the in-form Gurbaz scored 61 off just 47 balls with four fours and as many maximums.

Afghanistan then faced a mini collapse.

Young leg-spinner Aminul Islam Biplob is likely to be ruled out from the next game against @ACBofficials as he received three stitches in his left hand.https://t.co/5LJT1wuhoc#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #AMINULISLAMBIPLOB #BIPLOB #AMINUL #ACB

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 19, 2019

At one stage, Afghanistan were 83 for no loss but in the next six overs, they managed to score 41 for the loss of five wickets.

Credit goes to Zimbabwe bowlers as they bowled really well in the middle period and checked the scoring options of the strong Afghanistan batting line-up.

In the end, Afghanistan managed to register 155 on the board in their stipulated 20 overs losing eight wickets.

The Afghans added just 33 in their last five overs, and 71 in their last 10.

Experienced fast bowler Chris Mpofu led the way for Zimbabwe as he picked up four wickets conceding 30 runs while Tinotenda Mutombodzi bagged two.

5TH T20I

AFGHANISTAN INNINGS            R    B

Rahmanullah b Williams            61    47

Hazratullah c Mutumbami b Mutombodzi    31    24

Shafiqullah lbw b Mpofu            16    13

Najibullah c Madziva b Mutombodzi        5    8

Nabi c Jarvis b Mpofu                4    2

Naib c Ndlovu b Jarvis                10    7

Niazai c Burl b Mpofu                12    15

Rashid not out                    9    6

Asghar c Ndlovu b Mpofu            0    1

Zadran not out                0    0

Extras  (b 4, nb 3)                 7

Total (20 Overs)                 155/8

Fall Of Wickets

1-83 (Hazratullah), 2-107 (Shafiqullah), 3-116 (Rahmanullah), 4-121 (Nabi), 5-124 (Najibullah), 6-140 (Naib), 7-154 (Niazai), 8-155 (Asghar)

Bowling

Ndlovu 4-0-23-0, Jarvis 3-0-27-1, Williams 4-0-34-1, Mpofu 4-0-30-4, Burl 1-0-13-0, Madziva 1-0-6-0, Mutombodzi 3-0-18-2

ZIMBABWE INNINGS         R    B

Taylor c Najibullah b Mujeeb     19    17

Masakadza c Nabi b Dawlat     71    42

Chakabva c Rashid b Mujeeb    39    32

Williams not out        21    24

Mutombodzi not out        1    2

Extras (w 5)            5

Total (19.3 Overs)        156/3

Fall Of Wickets

1-40 (Taylor), 2-110 (Masakadza), 3-139 (Chakabva)

Bowling

Mujeeb 4-0-28-2, Dawlat 3.3-0-27-1, Naib 3-0-19-0, Nabi 4-0-40-0, Rashid 4-0-29-0, Niazai 1-0-13-0

Zimbabwe won by seven wickets

MoM: Chris Mpofu