Zimbabwe tour of United Arab Emirates 2015-16

Scorecard - 1st ODI, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (25 Dec 2015)

Afghanistan

131/10 (38.5) RR:3.37

Afghanistan won by 49 runs

MOM: Amir Hamza

Zimbabwe

82/10 (30.5) RR:2.66

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23.3 - S Raza to Ali Zadran, FOUR, nicely played by Zadran, comes down the track, gets close to the line of the delivery and lofts it wide of long-on, one bounce and over the ropes

18.3 - Chibhabha to Ali Zadran, FOUR, 6th ODI fifty for Noor Ali Zadran. Stanikzai hugs him and then he raises his bat to the crowd and the dressing room. Shortish and leg stump line, Ali Zadran rocks back and pulls it through backward square leg for four

9.4 - Muzarabani to Ali Zadran, FOUR, lovely shot, overpitched and well outside off, Zadran leans forward, meets the ball on top of the bounce, presents the full face of the bat and drives it past the diving mid-off fielder for a boundary

8.2 - W Masakadza to Nabi, FOUR, lovely shot, Nabi comes down the track, makes room as he did so and goes over wide mid-off, one bounce and over the ropes

7.3 - Muzarabani to Nabi, FOUR, that's a lovely on-drive from Nabi, too straight from Muzarabani, ends up drifting onto Nabi's pads, he shuffles across and flicks it in the gap between mid-wicket and mid-on

4.1 - W Masakadza to Mohammad Shahzad, FOUR, no respite for Zimbabwe, this was tossed up outside off, Shahzad gets a big stride forward and lifts it over mid-off, just cleared the fielder and rolls away to the fence

4.0 - Muzarabani to Ali Zadran, FOUR, beautifully played, pitched up and on the stumps, Zadran leans forward, presents the full face of the bat and punches it between the umpire and the non-striker, raced away to the fence in a hurry

3.3 - Muzarabani to Ali Zadran, FOUR, this is even better! On a length and on Zadran's pads, he walks into the shot, picks up the length and flicks it over mid-wicket for a boundary

3.2 - Muzarabani to Ali Zadran, FOUR, short, wide and four, width on offer from Muzarabani, Zadran gets on top of the bounce and cracks it behind square on the off-side for a boundary

2.3 - Luke Jongwe to Ali Zadran, FOUR, cracking shot, fraction too short and well outside off, Zadran swivels across and puls it high and over mid-on, one bounce and over the ropes

0.1 - Luke Jongwe to Ali Zadran, FOUR, great start for Afghanistan. Length delivery on the leg stump, the batsman waits for the ball to come and plays a stylish flick through mid-wicket and it races away for four

30.3 - Cremer to Najibullah, SIX, that was close! Zadran came down the track, played with the spin and lofted it high and wide of long-on. Two fielders converged and watched as the ball just went over the ropes. Needed a better effort there, could have had half-a-chance of a catch

9.1 - Muzarabani to Nabi, SIX, effortless from Nabi, length delivery on the stumps, he picked it up early, used his bottom hand to good effect and whipped it over wide long-on for a maximum, the first of the match

38.5 - Cremer to Yamin Ahmadzai, out Caught by Luke Jongwe!! Second five-wicket haul for Cremer. Flighted delivery outside off stump, Yamin Ahmadzai goes for the slog again, hit it well but hit it flat, the man at long-on moved to his right and took it above his head. Afghanistan are bowled out for 131. Yamin Ahmadzai c Luke Jongwe b Cremer 0(12)

36.2 - Cremer to Dawlat Zadran, out Caught by C Ervine!! This is ugly cricket from Dawlat Zadran. Can't go across the line and swing hard when the ball is turning away and Dawlat Zadran pays the penalty. Flighted delivery spinning away outside off stump, Zadran slogs and gets a thick edge, the man at slip moves to his right and accepts the catch. 4th wicket for Cremer, what a game he's having. Dawlat Zadran c C Ervine b Cremer 1(12)

34.2 - Cremer to Mirwais, out Stumped!! That was pretty comical. Flighted delivery spinning away outside off stump, Mirwais tries to defend off the front foot but the sharp turn beats him all ends up. The keeper and the bowler were actually appealing for a caught behind, but Mutumbami realised that Mirwais' back foot was still outside the crease. The batsman hardly made an attempt to drag it back into the crease and Mutumbami took his time and then whipped the bails off. The third umpire needed just one look to press the OUT button. Wicket number three for Cremer. Mirwais st Mutumbami b Cremer 3(12)

32.4 - Cremer to Najibullah, out Caught by C Ervine!! In the air and taken very well at short fine leg. Short and spinning down the leg-side, Najibullah tries to help it fine on its way, buts gets a bit of a top edge, the fielder there moved to his right and then dived full length to his right to grab it with both hands. Najibullah c C Ervine b Cremer 16(32) [6s-1]

29.3 - S Raza to Shenwari, out Caught by Chigumbura!! Another soft dismissal, Afghanistan can't afford such reversals. This was tossed up invitingly outside off, Shenwari was lured into the drive, he went hard into the drive and drilled it, couldn't hit the gap though, straight to Chigumbura at cover, the hosts are in huge trouble now. Shenwari c Chigumbura b S Raza 3(7)

24.4 - Chibhabha to Ali Zadran, out Caught by Mutumbami!! Huge blow for Afghanistan! The set batsman has been dismissed. On a good length and holding its line outside off, Zadran was looking to guide it towards third man, gets an audible nick and Mutumbami doesn't drop those. Simple call for umpire Vineet Kulkarni, Afghanistan have lost half their side now. Ali Zadran c Mutumbami b Chibhabha 63(82) [4s-8]

24.3 - Chibhabha to Stanikzai, out Stanikzai Run Out!! Stanikzai's scratchy innings comes to an end. This was a short of a length delivery outside off, Stanikzai made room for the cut and mistimed it to the left of cover. Raza gets across, turns around and makes a direct hit at the bowler's end, all in one motion. Even a valiant dive can't save Stanikzai, caught short by a yard. Stanikzai run out (S Raza) 9(32)

12.5 - Cremer to Nawroz, out Caught by Chigumbura!! This was on the cards. Such a poor shot this and Cremer gets his reward for some wonderful bowling. He kept it simple and just outside off stump. Nawroz went for an ugly slog across the line when it should have been driven through cover, gets it on the outside half of the bat and it goes straight up in the air. The fielder at cover accepts the dolly. Nawroz c Chigumbura b Cremer 4(9)

9.2 - Muzarabani to Nabi, out Caught by Luke Jongwe!! Another superb catch from Jongwe and Nabi's bright stand has been brought to an abrupt end. This was short and wide from Muzarabani, Nabi went chasing after that, made no effort to keep it down. The ball went high and behind square on the off-side. Jongwe ran across to his right, takes the catch with both hands, made sure that it didn't pop out when his elbows hit the ground. Nabi c Luke Jongwe b Muzarabani 17(18) [4s-2 6s-1]

4.2 - W Masakadza to Mohammad Shahzad, out Caught by Luke Jongwe!! Aggression has cost Shahzad here! This was flighted on off and came back with the angle, Shahzad came down the track, he was looking to go over mid-on, ends up getting too close to the pitch and drags it towards deep mid-wicket. Jongwe is the man in the deep and he holds on. Afghanistan have lost an early wicket. Mohammad Shahzad c Luke Jongwe b W Masakadza 5(7) [4s-1]

38.2 - Cremer to Amir Hamza, 1 run, dropped, but a tough chance. Cremer knows it and he smiles at his captain. Chigu is the culprit. Flighted delivery outside off stump, Hamza advances for the big hit, only gets athe toe-end of the bat, it flies over cover, Chigu runs back, gets both hands to it, but spills it

28.0 - Nabi to Cremer, FOUR, much needed boundary for Zimbabwe, dropped short and well down the leg-side, Cremer rocks back and pulls it behind square on the on-side, no one in the deep, a boundary for Cremer

15.3 - Shenwari to Chigumbura, FOUR, nicely done by Chigumbura, Shenwari darted one outside leg as Chigumbura came down the track, he adjusts and sweeps it fine, beats short fine and races away to the fence

10.0 - Dawlat Zadran to Chigumbura, FOUR, he played a lovely off-drive earlier in the over and now he plays an excellent on-drive. Fullish and on the leg stump, Chigumbura drives it through mid-on, where the fielder was slightly square

9.2 - Dawlat Zadran to Chigumbura, FOUR, oh that's a fine hit and this is the first boundary in 43 balls. Fullish and outside off stump, Chigumbura drives it to the left of the bowler, who fails to stop it in his followthrough and mid-off had no chance

2.1 - Amir Hamza to C Ervine, FOUR, flighted delivery on the leg stump, Ervine tries to defend, gets a thick edge that rolls wide of the man at slip. Nabi gives chase and pulls it back inside the rope. Hang on. Was his right knee in contact with the rope when he was getting rid of the ball? Yes, it was, the third umpire calls that as a boundary

30.5 - Amir Hamza to Muzarabani, out Lbw!! That's it! Afghanistan win by 49 runs. The players are extremely elated as they jump around and hug each other. What a brilliant performance this has been from Afghanistan. This is one of their finest wins in their cricketing history. Great bowling performance from Amir Hamza. He started it all in the very first over and now finishes off the innings and ends with 4 wickets. This was the slider again from Amir Hamza, Muzarabani played off the back foot as he tried to defend, was struck in front of middle and leg and the umpire raised his finger to delight the Afghanistani players and the fans in the stands. Muzarabani lbw b Amir Hamza 2(8)

29.2 - Nabi to W Masakadza, out Caught by Yamin Ahmadzai!! Nine down now and it's just a formality for Afghanistan. Flighted delivery from Nabi, Masakadza gets down on one knee and plays the sweep, gets a top edge which is easily taken at backward square leg. The crowd is right behind the Afghanistani team. W Masakadza c Yamin Ahmadzai b Nabi 0(6)

28.1 - Amir Hamza to Luke Jongwe, out Bowled!! That's a ripper from Hamza, Jongwe looks shell-shocked as he walks back. He came from wide of the crease, drifted one back into Jongwe, who pushed forward in defence, the ball pitched on middle, gripped and turned across the face of the bat - and knocked down off-stump. A dream delivery from Hamza, Afghanistan are just two wickets away. Luke Jongwe b Amir Hamza 4(8)

23.5 - Nabi to M Waller, out Caught by Ali Zadran!! Exceptional catch from Noor Ali Zadran at FSL! Zimbabwe are in massive trouble. This was tossed up on off, drew Waller forward into the defensive push, he doesn't cover for the spin, gets a thick inside edge onto the pads, Zadran was alert to the situation as the ball lobbed low and in front of him, he bends down, scoops the ball in front of the turf and holds on. Afghanistan are chuffed to bits. M Waller c Ali Zadran b Nabi 0(5)

22.4 - Yamin Ahmadzai to S Raza, out S Raza Run Out!! Tragedy for Zimbabwe! This was pitched up outside off, Raza got a good stride forward as he punched it towards mid-off. He set-off for the single, Waller was on his heels, he held his arm up and asked his partner to rush back. Complete misunderstanding between the two batsmen, Raza continued to rush across, both ended up at the same end even as the ball reached the keeper. Shahzad does a couple of celebratory jigs before demolishing the middle stump. Zimbabwe are in huge trouble now. S Raza run out (Stanikzai/Mohammad Shahzad) 6(25)

22.0 - Nabi to Chigumbura, out Bowled!! That's a huge wicket for Nabi! Chigumbura was looking in excellent touch, nice bit of flight, tossed up on off, drew Chigumbura into walking on the on-drive, he didn't get to the pitch of the ball, it spun back, went through the gap between bat and pad, the leg-stump took a rattle. Zimbabwe sink further. Chigumbura b Nabi 28(41) [4s-3]

16.2 - Amir Hamza to Peter Moor, out Bowled!! That's a cracker from Amir Hamza! Moor was completely done in by the spin, this was pushed through with a flatter trajectory - around middle, Moor was playing for the angle, this one gripped and turned off the pitch, beats Moor on the outside edge and crashes into the off-stump. A classic left-arm spinner's dismissal, Zimbabwe lose their fourth wicket. Peter Moor b Amir Hamza 21(50)

6.5 - Mirwais to Mutumbami, out Bowled!! Afghanistan are doing a great job here. Zimbabwe are three down inside 7 overs. This is a straight delivery and Mutumbami has missed it. A silver duck for Mutumbami. Nothing but a good length delivery angling into the right-hander, Mutumbami outside the line and tried to defend, the ball beat the inside edge and crashed into the middle of middle stump. Mutumbami b Mirwais 0(2)

6.2 - Mirwais to C Ervine, out Caught by Dawlat Zadran!! In the air and taken. This is a big wicket. The crowd gets behind the Afghanistani team. Short of a length delivery outside off stump, Ervine walks towards the bowler and plays across the line, gets a thick outside edge that goes high in the air. Third man runs forward and takes a good catch. Afghanistan are doing really well with the ball, despite defending a small total. C Ervine c Dawlat Zadran b Mirwais 6(18) [4s-1]

0.2 - Amir Hamza to Chibhabha, out Bowled!! What a start this is for Afghanistan. A golden duck for Chibhabha. The slider from Amir Hamza, came in very sharply with the angle from round the wicket, Chibhabha gave himself some room and went back to punch, the ball hit the pad and then rolled back to disturb the off stump. The bowler was actually turning towards the umpire to appeal for LBW and then realised that the ball had hit the stumps. Chibhabha b Amir Hamza 0(1)